Ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia: An effective method for cleaning the probes

Objectives. - The objective of this study was to determine if the ultrasound probe can act as a vector for cross-infection and to compare two cleaning methods for ultrasound probes in order to limit or control the transmission risk. Study design. - Prospective study. Patients and methods. - The first part of the study (PI) was conducted to evaluate the possibility of the ultrasound probe to serve as a source of cross-contamination. Thirty blocks were placed under ultrasound guidance in elective outpatients. After each procedure (Proc), the ultrasound probe was decontaminated/cleaned using either an antiseptic solution spray (AS: n = 15) or just wiped with two dry paper sheets (DP: n = 15), in a randomly assigned order. Bacteriological samples were collected before and after each decontamination/cleaning methods and inoculated on a chocolate agar plates. The second part of the study (P2) was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two cleaning methods for ultrasound probes. The ultrasound probes were exposed to a large inoculum of three bacteria (Inoc). They were then cleaned/decontaminated using either DP (n = 10) or AS (n = 10). in a randomly assigned order. Bacteriological samples were collected before and after each cleaning/decontamination methods and inoculated on a chocolate agar plates. Results. - During P1, after Pro, all probes were found to be sterile before and after both AS and DP. During P2. after Inoc, all probes were found infected (CFU > 150) but were considered sterile (CFU < 10) after both DP and AS. Conclusion. - The results of this study suggest that the risk of cross-infection during ultrasound guidance in locoregional anaesthesia is really low. Our data suggest that wiping ultrasound probe with two dry paper sheets is an adequate cleaning method to prevent cross-contamination risk. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.