Incidence of residual bacterial contamination of transvaginal ultrasound probes.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate if ultrasound probes are reusable medical devices that risk becoming contaminated after a patient examination in Japan.
Methods: The level of bacterial contamination on transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) probes following current routine probe cleaning at a university hospital (site A) and a clinic (site B) in Japan was investigated.
Results: A total of 98.1% of probes were found to be contaminated at site A (median CFU 40, IQR 10, 132.5) and 94.1% were found to be contaminated at site B (median CFU 50, IQR 20, 85). Of the contaminated probes, 52.9% at site A and 64.6% at site B harbored potentially pathogenic bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a high rate of ultrasound probe residual bacterial contamination in Japan.