Investigation on microbial contamination status of ultrasound coupling gel and probes and prevention and control strategies_West China Medical Journal

Authors：

ZHANG Xue , JIANG Dongping , ZHAO Dan , LIU Yuan , HE Lianfen ,  GU Chengwu

Nosocomial Infection Management Department, Suining Central Hospital, Suining, Sichuan 629000, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

GU Chengwu, Email: 43981232@qq.com

Keywords：

Medical ultrasonic probes; ultrasonic coupling gel; microbial contamination; infection prevention and control in hospital; Burkholderia cepacia complex

DOI：

10.7507/1002-0179.202601193

Video：

Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Objective To investigate the microbial contamination status of ultrasonic coupling gel and probe surfaces in hospital, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of infections related to ultrasonic examinations. Methods A cluster sampling combined with convenience sampling method was adopted. In March 2025, three departments in Suining Central Hospital with high-frequency ultrasound examinations, namely the Physical Examination Center, Ultrasonic Imaging Department and Emergency Department of the hospital, were selected for sampling for 2 consecutive weeks, which covered the morning and afternoon of working days from Monday to Friday. Microbial culture and counting were conducted on the ultrasound probes for intact skin contact, which were standby after routine cleaning and disinfection in the departments, as well as the in-use ultrasonic coupling gel. Meanwhile, the dominant bacterial strains cultured were identified. Results A total of 168 samples of standby ultrasonic probes and 129 samples of in-use ultrasonic coupling gel were collected. The total colony count qualified rate of standby ultrasonic probes was 44.64% (75/168), with 58.67% (44/75) in the Physical Examination Center, 57.14% (8/14) in the Emergency Department, and 29.11% (23/79) in the Ultrasonic Imaging Department. There was a statistically significant difference in the qualified rate of probes among different departments (P<0.05). The total colony count qualified rate of in-use ultrasonic coupling gel samples was 29.46% (38/129), including 50.00% (3/6) in the Emergency Department, 33.33% (15/45) in the Physical Examination Center, and 25.64% (20/78) in the Ultrasonic Imaging Department. There was no statistically significant difference in the qualified rate of coupling gel among different departments (P>0.05). Bacterial species identification showed that the types of contaminating bacteria in in-use ultrasonic coupling gel and standby ultrasonic probes were similar, mainly Burkholderia pyrrocinia accounting for 65.76% (121/184), Burkholderia stabilis accounting for 28.80% (53/184). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and mold were not detected. Conclusions The standby ultrasonic probes and in-use ultrasonic coupling gel in the hospital have microbial contamination, with Burkholderia cepacia complex as the main contaminating bacteria. This poses a risk of nosocomial infection and requires further strengthening of management.

Citation： ZHANG Xue, JIANG Dongping, ZHAO Dan, LIU Yuan, HE Lianfen, GU Chengwu. Investigation on microbial contamination status of ultrasound coupling gel and probes and prevention and control strategies. West China Medical Journal, 2026, 41(3): 424-428. doi: 10.7507/1002-0179.202601193 Copy

1.	Osterwalder J, Polyzogopoulou E, Hoffmann B. Point-of-care ultrasound-history, current and evolving clinical concepts in emergency medicine. Medicina (Kaunas), 2023, 59(12): 2179.
2.	D'Andrea A, DelGiudice C, Fabiani D, et al. The incremental role of multiorgan point-of-care ultrasounds in the emergency setting. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023, 20(3): 2088.
3.	Dogra S, Angrup A, Kanaujia R, et al. Burkholderia multivorans sepsis outbreak in a neonatal surgical unit of a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Pediatr, 2021, 88(7): 725.
4.	American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine(AIUM). AIUM official statement: guidelines for cleaning and preparing external-and internal-use ultrasound transducers and equipment between patients as well as safe handling and use of ultrasound coupling gel. J Ultrasound Med, 2023, 42(7): E13-E22.
5.	Westerway SC, Basseal JM, Abramowicz J, et al. Recommendations for the cleaning of endocavity ultrasound transducers between patients. Ultrasound Med Biol, 2024, 50(6): 775-778.
6.	姚希, 陳路增, 吳安華, 等. 醫用超聲探頭復用處理專家共識. 中國感染控制雜志, 2025, 24(3): 301-307.
7.	張葉, 王安琪, 高麗君, 等. 醫用超聲探頭衛生現狀與感染風險研究. 中國感染控制雜志, 2025, 24(11): 1601-1607.
8.	李俐, 肖佳慶, 王麗萍, 等. 醫用超聲耦合劑與探頭污染及其消毒現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2026, 36(1): 121-125.
9.	浙中華人民共和國國家質量監督檢驗檢疫總局, 中國國家標準化管理委員會. 醫院消毒衛生標準 GB 15982-2012, 2012.
10.	中華人民共和國國家藥品監督管理局. 醫用超聲耦合劑 YY/T 0299-2022, 2022.
11.	Leroy S. Infectious risk of endovaginal and transrectal ultrasonography: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hosp Infect, 2013, 83(2): 99-106.
12.	劉希茹, 段弘揚, 李濤, 等. 體外超聲探頭及陰道超聲探頭微生物污染現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2020, 30(5): 775-779.
13.	劉麗紅, 郝元濤, 黎明, 等. 超聲探頭微生物污染流行病學調查及控制對策. 中國基層醫藥, 2007, 14(7): 1137-1139.
14.	林云萬, 張旭, 趙正陽, 等. 醫用超聲探頭及耦合劑微生物污染調查及分析. 中國消毒學雜志, 2023, 40(2): 106-108.
15.	丁紅暉, 譚莉, 鄒明君, 等. 某三甲醫院超聲診斷儀微生物污染現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2023, 33(16): 2545-2549.
16.	王曼, 張麗杰, 夏生林, 等. 洋蔥伯克霍爾德氏菌污染 B 超耦合劑致剖宮產術后切口感染的調查. 中華流行病學雜志, 2014, 35(3): 566-568.
17.	余素娟, 楊瑋, 閆濤, 等. 洋蔥伯克霍爾德菌醫院感染的臨床分析. 中國衛生檢驗雜志, 2022, 32(9): 1077-1079.
18.	Li XJ, Huo LL, Ji YJ, et al. Detection of burkholderia gladioli in contaminated ultrasonic coupling agent. BMC Microbiol, 2025, 25(1): 246.
19.	Abdelfattah R, Al-Jumaah S, Al-Qahtani A, et al. Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre due to contaminated ultrasound probe gel. J Hosp Infect, 2018, 98(3): 289-294.
20.	范一靈, 朱冉, 楊燕, 等. 2025 年版《中國藥典》微生物標準的變化與發展趨勢. 中國藥品標準, 2025, 26(1): 93-98.
21.	中華人民共和國衛生部. 醫療機構消毒技術規范 WS/T 367-2012, 2012.

1. Osterwalder J, Polyzogopoulou E, Hoffmann B. Point-of-care ultrasound-history, current and evolving clinical concepts in emergency medicine. Medicina (Kaunas), 2023, 59(12): 2179.
2. D'Andrea A, DelGiudice C, Fabiani D, et al. The incremental role of multiorgan point-of-care ultrasounds in the emergency setting. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023, 20(3): 2088.
3. Dogra S, Angrup A, Kanaujia R, et al. Burkholderia multivorans sepsis outbreak in a neonatal surgical unit of a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Pediatr, 2021, 88(7): 725.
4. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine(AIUM). AIUM official statement: guidelines for cleaning and preparing external-and internal-use ultrasound transducers and equipment between patients as well as safe handling and use of ultrasound coupling gel. J Ultrasound Med, 2023, 42(7): E13-E22.
5. Westerway SC, Basseal JM, Abramowicz J, et al. Recommendations for the cleaning of endocavity ultrasound transducers between patients. Ultrasound Med Biol, 2024, 50(6): 775-778.
6. 姚希, 陳路增, 吳安華, 等. 醫用超聲探頭復用處理專家共識. 中國感染控制雜志, 2025, 24(3): 301-307.
7. 張葉, 王安琪, 高麗君, 等. 醫用超聲探頭衛生現狀與感染風險研究. 中國感染控制雜志, 2025, 24(11): 1601-1607.
8. 李俐, 肖佳慶, 王麗萍, 等. 醫用超聲耦合劑與探頭污染及其消毒現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2026, 36(1): 121-125.
9. 浙中華人民共和國國家質量監督檢驗檢疫總局, 中國國家標準化管理委員會. 醫院消毒衛生標準 GB 15982-2012, 2012.
10. 中華人民共和國國家藥品監督管理局. 醫用超聲耦合劑 YY/T 0299-2022, 2022.
11. Leroy S. Infectious risk of endovaginal and transrectal ultrasonography: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hosp Infect, 2013, 83(2): 99-106.
12. 劉希茹, 段弘揚, 李濤, 等. 體外超聲探頭及陰道超聲探頭微生物污染現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2020, 30(5): 775-779.
13. 劉麗紅, 郝元濤, 黎明, 等. 超聲探頭微生物污染流行病學調查及控制對策. 中國基層醫藥, 2007, 14(7): 1137-1139.
14. 林云萬, 張旭, 趙正陽, 等. 醫用超聲探頭及耦合劑微生物污染調查及分析. 中國消毒學雜志, 2023, 40(2): 106-108.
15. 丁紅暉, 譚莉, 鄒明君, 等. 某三甲醫院超聲診斷儀微生物污染現況調查. 中華醫院感染學雜志, 2023, 33(16): 2545-2549.
16. 王曼, 張麗杰, 夏生林, 等. 洋蔥伯克霍爾德氏菌污染 B 超耦合劑致剖宮產術后切口感染的調查. 中華流行病學雜志, 2014, 35(3): 566-568.
17. 余素娟, 楊瑋, 閆濤, 等. 洋蔥伯克霍爾德菌醫院感染的臨床分析. 中國衛生檢驗雜志, 2022, 32(9): 1077-1079.
18. Li XJ, Huo LL, Ji YJ, et al. Detection of burkholderia gladioli in contaminated ultrasonic coupling agent. BMC Microbiol, 2025, 25(1): 246.
19. Abdelfattah R, Al-Jumaah S, Al-Qahtani A, et al. Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre due to contaminated ultrasound probe gel. J Hosp Infect, 2018, 98(3): 289-294.
20. 范一靈, 朱冉, 楊燕, 等. 2025 年版《中國藥典》微生物標準的變化與發展趨勢. 中國藥品標準, 2025, 26(1): 93-98.
21. 中華人民共和國衛生部. 醫療機構消毒技術規范 WS/T 367-2012, 2012.

West China Medical Journal

Investigation on microbial contamination status of ultrasound coupling gel and probes and prevention and control strategies

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Previous Article

Next Article

Format

Content