Use of Disposable Stethoscope Covers for Reduction of Stethoscope MRSA Contamination

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This is a prospective pilot study using a randomized, controlled, single blinded, crossover trial design, evaluating the effect of daily antimicrobial stethoscope diaphragm covers versus uncovered stethoscope. Stethoscopes will be cleaned Sani-cloth germicidal disposable wipes which are effective against MRSA. Each participant will then be randomly assigned to 7 days in either the intervention or the control arm. At the end of the 7 days participants stethoscopes will be cleaned again. This will be followed by another 7 days in the arm that they are not in during the first 7 days. The primary endpoint is MRSA colony count from stethoscope diaphragms cultures at 7 days, focusing on the difference between the intervention and the control periods. The secondary endpoint is the rate of hospital acquired MRSA infection in patients treated by residents during each period.

Official Title
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Use of Disposable Stethoscope Covers for Reduction of Stethoscope MRSA Contamination

Conditions
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MRSA

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Daily Antimicrobial Stethoscope Diaphragm Cover
* Other: Uncovered Stethoscopes


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Internal Medicine Residents Exclusion Criteria: NA
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Antimicrobial Stethoscope Diaphragm Covers<br> | Other: Daily Antimicrobial Stethoscope Diaphragm Cover<br>* Patients will receive package with instructions to use stethoscope cover, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days<br>Other: Uncovered Stethoscopes<br>* Patients receive instruction to begin with no covers, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days<br>|
| Active Comparator: Uncovered Stethoscopes<br> | Other: Daily Antimicrobial Stethoscope Diaphragm Cover<br>* Patients will receive package with instructions to use stethoscope cover, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days<br>Other: Uncovered Stethoscopes<br>* Patients receive instruction to begin with no covers, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MRSA colony count cultured from stethoscope diaphragms | Total CFU of each selected pathogen at 7 days compared by paired Mann-Whitney U tests, with each patient serving as their own control | 7 Days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rate of hospital acquired MRSA infection in patients treated by participating residents | Rates on nosocomial infection in each arm compared through use of Kaplan Meier curves | 14 Days |