ArticlePloS one2012
High risk HPV contamination of endocavity vaginal ultrasound probes: an underestimated route of nosocomial infection?
Article in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 108 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mucosal alpha-papillomaviruses are not associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: Lack of mechanistic evidence from South Africa, China and Iran and from a world-wide meta-analysis.International journal of cancer · 2016Pooled it
- Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Reducing the risk of transmitting infection during ultrasound examination-Updated 2026.Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Article
- Human Papillomavirus: Update in Bridging Basic Science to Clinical and Public Health Innovations.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Mouse Papillomavirus Outbreak in a Research Facility.Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS · 2025Article
- Optimizing Ultrasound Probe Disinfection for Healthcare-Associated Infection Control: A Comparative Analysis of Disinfectant Efficacy.Microorganisms · 2024Review
- Review
- Scalp verruca from barber clippers: An epidemiologic assessment of a common fomite.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2023Article
- Ethanol is indispensable for virucidal hand antisepsis: memorandum from the alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) Task Force, WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, and the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2022Review
- Photoacoustic imaging of posterior periodontal pocket using a commercial hockey-stick transducer.Journal of biomedical optics · 2022Article
- Inactivation of Polyomavirus SV40 as Surrogate for Human Papillomaviruses by Chemical Disinfectants.Viruses · 2021Article
- [Disinfection of transvaginal ultrasound probes-A current overview of methods and recommendations].Der Gynakologe · 2021Review
- Article
- Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (Review).Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2020Review
- Occupational exposure of oropharyngeal human papillomavirus amongst otolaryngologists.The Laryngoscope · 2020Article
- The ability of two chlorine dioxide chemistries to inactivate human papillomavirus-contaminated endocavitary ultrasound probes and nasendoscopes.Journal of medical virology · 2020Article
- Risk of infection following semi-invasive ultrasound procedures in Scotland, 2010 to 2016: A retrospective cohort study using linked national datasets.Ultrasound (Leeds, England) · 2018Article
- Infection prevention and control in ultrasound - best practice recommendations from the European Society of Radiology Ultrasound Working Group.Insights into imaging · 2017Article
- The ultrasound unit and infection control - Are we on the right track?Ultrasound (Leeds, England) · 2017Article
- Guidelines for Reprocessing Ultrasound Transducers.Australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine · 2017Article
- Advancing infection control in Australasian medical ultrasound practice.Australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEndocavity ultrasound is seen as a harmless procedure and has become a common gynaecological procedure. However without correct disinfection, it may result in nosocomial transmission of genito-urinary pathogens, such as high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV). We aimed to evaluate the currently recommended disinfection procedure for covered endocavity ultrasound probes, which consists of "Low Level Disinfection" (LLD) with "quaternary ammonium compounds" containing wipes.
methodsFrom May to October 2011 swabs were taken from endovaginal ultrasound probes at the Gynecology Department of the Lyon University Hospital. During the first phase (May-June 2011) samples were taken after the ultrasound examination and after the LLD procedure. In a second phase (July-October 2011) swab samples were collected just before the probe was used. All samples were tested for the presence of human DNA (as a marker for a possible transmission of infectious pathogens from the genital tract) and HPV DNA with the Genomica DNA microarray (35 different HPV genotypes).
resultsWe collected 217 samples before and 200 samples after the ultrasound examination. The PCR was inhibited in two cases. Human DNA was detected in 36 (18%) post-examination samples and 61 (28%) pre-examination samples. After the ultrasound LLD procedure, 6 (3.0%) samples contained HR-HPV types (16, 31, 2×53 and 58). Similarly, HPV was detected in 6 pre-examination samples (2.7%). Amongst these 4 (1.9%) contained HR-HPV (types 53 and 70).
conclusionOur study reveals that a considerable number of ultrasound probes are contaminated with human and HR-HPV DNA, despite LLD disinfection and probe cover. In all hospitals, where LLD is performed, the endovaginal ultrasound procedure must therefore be considered a source for nosocomial HR-HPV infections. We recommend the stringent use of high-level disinfectants, such as glutaraldehyde or hydrogen peroxide solutions.
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