Evaluation of the microbial contamination of the audiological diagnostic equipment and their current disinfection techniques

Background: The study aims to investigate the microbial contamination of commonly used audiological diagnostic equipment and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing disinfection methods in audiological clinics. Methods: Hospitals with fully equipped audiology clinics in Istanbul were included in the study. Various audiological diagnostic devices and disinfection practices in hospitals were examined. A total of 60 swab samples were collected from the stimulus button on the audiometer, patient response switch, supra-aural headphone cushion, bone conduction headphone, and disinfected probe tips used in the Tympanometer and Auditory Brainstem Response. Results: Bacterial growth was observed on 40% of the analyzed plates, with 11.66% showing 2 different types of bacterial growth. Staphylococcaceae family were the most common bacteria identified. Other bacteria included Pseudomonas putida, Pantoea spp., Micrococcus luteus, Corynebacterium spp., and Bacillus spp. The highest bacterial growth occurred on the supra-aural headphone cushion and bone vibrator. Conclusions: The study highlights the presence of various bacteria on audiological diagnostic equipment, emphasizing Staphylococcus species as predominant. Current disinfection practices, particularly for supra-aural headphones and bone vibrators, were found to be inadequate, potentially posing risks for infections. The study suggests the need for disinfection protocols, particularly for frequently touched devices, to ensure patient safety in clinics.