Stethoscope Hygiene Gaps Persist: Infection Prevention Leaders Call for Workflow-Based Solutions to Reduce HAIs
EP. 1: Stethoscopes as Hidden HAI Vectors: Infection Prevention Experts Call for Stronger Hygiene Protocols
ByNatalia G. Nunez, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, CSPDT, LSSYB, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control, Baptist Health in Coral Gables, Florida,Dr. W. Frank Peacock, MD, FACEP, FACC, FESC, Professor, Emergency Medicine and Research Director, and Vice Chair for Research Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas,Naomi Ragsdale, BSBA, BSN, RN, Infection Control Nurse, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee,Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN, Infection Preventionist, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veteran Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee ,Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, CEO, and Independent Consultant of Clinical Solution, LLC, Anna, Texas,Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA Infection prevention leaders discuss why stethoscope hygiene continues to “fall through the cracks” in health care settings. From emergency departments to outpatient care, experts warn that inconsistent cleaning makes stethoscopes a persistent source of health care-associated infection (HAI) risk and call for practical, evidence-based solutions.
EP. 2: Stethoscope Contamination in Outpatient and Acute Care: Experts Warn “‘Sort of Clean’ Isn’t Good Enough”
ByNatalia G. Nunez, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, CSPDT, LSSYB, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control, Baptist Health in Coral Gables, Florida,Dr. W. Frank Peacock, MD, FACEP, FACC, FESC, Professor, Emergency Medicine and Research Director, and Vice Chair for Research Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas,Naomi Ragsdale, BSBA, BSN, RN, Infection Control Nurse, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee,Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN, Infection Preventionist, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veteran Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee ,Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, CEO, and Independent Consultant of Clinical Solution, LLC, Anna, Texas,Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA Infection prevention experts warn that stethoscope hygiene remains inconsistent across emergency departments and high-volume outpatient settings. Research shows cleaning reduces bioburden but does not eliminate pathogens. Leaders argue stethoscopes should be treated like hands, with stronger accountability, barriers, and workflow-driven solutions to reduce health care-associated infection risk.
EP. 3: From Policy to Practice: How Infection Prevention Innovations Gain Real Staff Buy-In
ByNatalia G. Nunez, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, CSPDT, LSSYB, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control, Baptist Health in Coral Gables, Florida,Dr. W. Frank Peacock, MD, FACEP, FACC, FESC, Professor, Emergency Medicine and Research Director, and Vice Chair for Research Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas,Naomi Ragsdale, BSBA, BSN, RN, Infection Control Nurse, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee,Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN, Infection Preventionist, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veteran Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee ,Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, CEO, and Independent Consultant of Clinical Solution, LLC, Anna, Texas,Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA New infection prevention technologies only work if staff and leadership truly adopt them. Experts highlight education, workflow alignment, leadership support, financial framing, and small measurable changes as keys to lasting implementation. Without buy-in and practical integration, even clinically validated tools risk becoming just another unused policy add-on.
EP. 4: Stethoscope Diaphragm Covers and Bundled Interventions Reduce Central Line Infections in ICUs
ByNatalia G. Nunez, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, CSPDT, LSSYB, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control, Baptist Health in Coral Gables, Florida,Dr. W. Frank Peacock, MD, FACEP, FACC, FESC, Professor, Emergency Medicine and Research Director, and Vice Chair for Research Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas,Naomi Ragsdale, BSBA, BSN, RN, Infection Control Nurse, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee,Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN, Infection Preventionist, Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. Veteran Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee ,Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, CEO, and Independent Consultant of Clinical Solution, LLC, Anna, Texas,Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA After multiple central line infections, intensive care unit (ICU) leaders examined stethoscope hygiene and found major compliance gaps. Plastic sleeves failed, but diaphragm covers integrated into a bundled prevention strategy led to significant infection reduction. Their results, presented at NTI 2025 and forthcoming in Critical Care Nurse, highlight practical, point-of-care solutions.
