CHICAGO (AP) — Two centuries after its invention, the stethoscope — the very symbol of the medical profession — is facing an uncertain prognosis. It is threatened by hand-held devices that are also ...

Though doctors may disinfect their hands to prevent spreading illness, there may be another bacteria-ridden object they have on them that doesn't get the same cleaning treatment: their stethoscopes. A ...

As a necessary part of patient health assessment and diagnosis, stethoscopes are one of the most valuable tools for healthcare professionals. But not all stethoscopes are equal. These tools can differ ...

In recent years, it's become painfully clear to everyone working in medicine that frequent hand washing is crucial to stopping the spread of infection in hospital settings. Nowadays, every hospital ...

The image of a doctor with a stethoscope hanging around the neck may seem iconic, but in fact, this image may not last much longer, as hand-held ultrasound devices are predicted to replace ...

While stethoscopes can transmit the same germs as unclean hands, none of the doctors in a recent study bothered to clean them between patients. And that was the case even after an educational ...