1. Prioritize by Usage Scenario (Highest Priority):
✅ Must be cleaned immediately: Shared in clinical settings; after contact with new patients; after contact with patients with infectious diseases/multidrug-resistant bacteria; contaminated with sweat, blood, bodily fluids, dust, or other obvious pollutants.
✅ Must be cleaned before each use: Shared public equipment, or before use after being taken on a medical call.
✅ For personal use only: Clean after use: For personal use only (e.g., home fetal heart rate stethoscope), simply clean the stethoscope head that comes into contact with the skin after each use.
2. Prioritize by Time Interval: According to medical device disinfection standards, under normal circumstances, thorough cleaning and disinfection should be performed at least once a week. Even if not used for a long time, cleaning and disinfection are still required before use if stored for more than one week to prevent dust accumulation and bacterial growth.
3. Judging by Visual Condition
Cleaning is required if any of the following conditions are present:
The stethoscope head and earplugs show obvious stains, oil, or dust.
The earplugs are contaminated with skin oils, earwax, or other secretions.
The tubing surface has stains or marks, or has been placed in an unclean environment.
Noise is detected during use (after ruling out equipment malfunction, this is often due to dirt or contamination affecting sound reception).
