AseptiScope

09/16/2026

Something we hear often is: "There's never been an acceptable compliance rate with stethoscope hygiene."

The literature helps explain why.

❌ Clinicians rarely have 60 seconds between every patient to properly disinfect a stethoscope.
❌ Even when the full cleaning protocol is followed, studies show it reduces contamination but does not reliably decontaminate the stethoscope.
❌ Decades of education and reminders have never produced sustained, high compliance in practice.

So what are we measuring ourselves against?

If the expected standard is impractical and cannot consistently achieve the intended outcome, it shouldn't be surprising that compliance remains low.

Patient safety depends on standards that are not only evidence-based, but also practical, effective, and sustainable in real clinical workflows.

The goal shouldn't be better compliance with an ineffective process. It should be adoption of a process clinicians can consistently perform and that reliably delivers the intended outcome.

09/01/2026

AseptiScope is proud to celebrate Clinical Nurse Specialists during CNS Week 2026!

This week, we recognize the vital role CNSs play in turning evidence into practice, advancing patient safety, and leading meaningful change across healthcare.

From championing emerging evidence-based practices like stethoscope hygiene to implementing improvements across the continuum of care, CNSs are uniquely positioned to identify gaps, challenge the status quo, and lead practice change.

Thank you to the CNSs working every day to AMPLIFY better care for patients and clinicians!

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

08/31/2026

“Sort of clean” fails patients and undermines infection control.

Even under controlled conditions, diligent stethoscope disinfection does not reliably restore a clean patient-contact surface.

In a published study, a standardized 60-second cleaning protocol returned only about half of contaminated stethoscope diaphragms to a bacterial level comparable to clean stethoscopes. A more practical “wipe-and-go” approach performed substantially worse.

While disinfecting stethoscopes between patients remains the recommended standard of care, the evidence raises an important question:

How can we make clean patient contact more reliable, consistent, and practical, especially for our most vulnerable patients?

📖 Reference: Knecht VR, McGinniss JE, Shankar HM, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019;40(2):171–177.

07/31/2026

After surviving a life threatening MRSA infection, Bill Schmelzer was left with a question that many patients never get answered.

"Where did it come from?"

While the exact source of his infection may never be known, his experience inspired him to become a passionate advocate for stronger infection prevention practices and greater awareness of overlooked transmission risks.

One of those risks is the stethoscope diaphragm, a medical device used on patient after patient throughout the day. Despite decades of research demonstrating contamination and low between-patient cleaning compliance, stethoscope hygiene remains an important opportunity to improve patient safety.

Today, Bill continues to share his story in hopes of preventing others from experiencing the same life changing consequences.

In this picture, Bill is receiving infusion therapy at Ohio State University Infusion Care in Dublin and holding Disky, the curator of safe and effective stethoscope hygiene, to help raise awareness of the importance of stethoscope hygiene and encourage conversations about protecting every patient encounter.

Thank you, Bill, for your commitment to improving patient safety for everyone, and thank you to OSU for taking good care of Bill!

Whether you're a clinician or a patient, please consider joining Disky's National Patient Safety Initiative to raise stethoscope hygiene awareness and share your story! https://diskcover.com/disky

07/15/2026

Did you know?

A published study found a 10.9% misdiagnosis rate, missing important heart sounds such as diastolic and systolic murmurs, when clinicians used disposable stethoscopes, compared to no misdiagnoses when a professional-grade stethoscope protected by a disk cover barrier was used.

When heart or lung sounds are misinterpreted, patients may experience delayed treatment, unnecessary testing, or inappropriate interventions.

Disposable stethoscopes have long been viewed as a way to reduce cross-contamination, but this finding highlights an important consideration: infection prevention strategies should never come at the expense of patient safety.

📖 Source: Kalra S, et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(1):263-264.

07/10/2026

The DiskCover System is a solution for stethoscope hygiene that has outcomes and provides a positive return on investment for any hospital using it.

What started as a solution for one overlooked source of pathogen transmission has grown into a broader platform for automating aseptic technique across healthcare.

In this clip, AseptiScope CEO and Co-Founder Scott Mader shares how one innovation can become the foundation for many others, and why meaningful clinical outcomes are where every new idea should begin.

06/30/2026

Patients undergoing cancer treatment are asked to do everything they can to prevent infection. But what happens when one of the most frequently used medical devices isn't consistently cleaned between patients?

In this guest article, cancer patient and healthcare advocate Pamela Lessenberry shares her firsthand experience navigating chemotherapy, surgery, and the questions that arose around stethoscope hygiene.

It's a powerful reminder that patients notice the details, especially when infection prevention is critical to their care.

As Pamela writes: "I'll do my part. You do yours."

Read her story here: https://diskcover.com/ill-do-my-part-you-do-yours-cancer-patient-perspective/

Cancer patient Pamela Lessenberry shares why consistent stethoscope hygiene matters for immunocompromised patients and how visible infection prevention builds trust.

06/26/2026

🏆 Stethoscope Hygiene Champions of the Week: Lori Holliday & Grace Lorenz

This week, we're proud to recognize Lori Holliday and Grace Lorenz from Jefferson-LVHN in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for their commitment to advancing patient safety through improved stethoscope hygiene.

Patient safety is driven by clinicians who champion evidence-based practice, encourage meaningful change, and help create safer care environments for every patient encounter. By supporting awareness around stethoscope hygiene, Lori and Grace are helping bring attention to an often-overlooked opportunity to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission.

Thank you, Lori and Grace, for joining Disky's National Patient Safety Initiative and for your dedication to protecting patients and supporting a culture of infection prevention.

06/19/2026

🏆 Stethoscope Hygiene Champion of the Week: Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FCNS, FAAN

Kathleen is a recognized expert in stethoscope hygiene and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on the topic.

For over 40 years, Kathleen has helped shape critical care nursing, infection prevention, patient safety, and evidence-based practice. As a founding member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), current President of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses, and internationally recognized educator, author, and consultant, Kathleen's impact has been felt across countless healthcare organizations and patient care initiatives.

At AACN NTI 2026, Kathleen highlighted an important challenge in infection prevention: addressing overlooked vectors of pathogen transmission, including the stethoscope. As healthcare systems work to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), she has been a strong advocate for recognizing the role that contaminated medical equipment can play in patient safety.

We're honored to recognize Kathleen as a Stethoscope Hygiene Champion in Disky's National Patient Safety Initiative and thank her for her continued leadership in advancing safer care for patients everywhere!

If you are clinician that's passionate about improving patient safety and experience at your healthcare facility, please join the National Patient Safety Initiative! https://diskcover.com/disky

06/11/2026

These Infection Prevention nurses saw a major infection gap and acted on it!

At Memphis VA Medical Center, Naomi Ragsdale, BSBA, BSN, RN and Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN recognized that stethoscope hygiene wasn’t a minor issue. It was a meaningful contamination risk that required a complete rethink of practice.

But they didn’t get it right on the first try.

Their initial solution, plastic stethoscope bag covers, created more problems than it solved. Cumbersome. Disliked by staff. Ultimately not sustainable in real workflows.

Instead of forcing a failing approach, they reassessed.

▶️ In this clip, hear how that experience led them to adopt a simpler, workflow-compatible solution that clinicians actually use.