Ultrasound Examination and the Risk of Iatrogenic Infections Development
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Ultrasound examination is used in all areas of modern medicine and occupies the leading positions in non-invasive instrumental diagnostics. Ultrasound is believed to be safe for patients. At the same time, there is a dangerous effect of ultrasound, manifested by bacterial and viral contamination of ultrasound equipment and the examined patients. Numerous studies have convincingly shown that ultrasound is dangerous in terms of iatrogenic contamination of a patient with bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Each ultrasound examination includes contact between the probe of the device and the patient’s skin, or his/her mucous membranes, or sterile tissues during intraoperative examinations. When the ultrasonic sensor comes into contact with the patient’s body, it may become contaminated with pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. It is also possible to contaminate the ultrasound equipment and the hands of a doctor who conducts this study. All this will subsequently contribute to the microorganisms transmission to other subjects being examined. Therefore, every patient should be considered as a potential source of pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. The purpose of the work was to analyze the literature data on bacterial and viral contamination during ultrasound examination.
Authors: E.A. Dikareva, S.I. Pimanov
Institution: Vitebsk State Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3210164288