[Question #13965] Transvaginal Ultrasound without probe cover
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1 months ago
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I had a transvaginal ultrasound and the technician either forgot the probe cover or it got stuck in me—when the probe was removed, it had no cover. No cover was found so it seems forgotten. They say they sanitize between patients with McKesson germicidal wipes. What is my risk of HIV, HPV, Hep C, HSV-1 and 2, CMV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, or any other infections from this exposure? I recently tested negative for all of these and am not sexually active so this would be my only exposure. Thank you.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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Welcome to the forum; thanks for your question. To be clear, we are not gynecologists and personally I have never done or observed a vaginal ultrasound and am entirely unfamiliar with the equipment or standard techniques: replaceable (single use) probe versus changeable probe covers versus cleansing between patients. It sounds like you may be more familiar with this than I am. From what you say about the technician's response, it sounds like they do not routinely change or recover the probe but normally sanitize it between patients. Did you ask the technician their usual routine? If uncertain, you should ask -- or if the technician seems unfamiliar or resistant, ask the head nurse or your gynecologist.
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I'm also not directly familiar with McKesson wipes but a quick online search shows the active ingredients are three potent disinfectants. I am 100% confident they are very effective in immediately killing or inactivating all STI pathogens, including all the ones you mention. Finally, I'll point out that in recent decades there has never been a reported case of any STI in any patient (male or female) on account of contaminated instruments or procedures in medical offices. This probably was a fairly common occurrence in the days when intimate medical instruments were commonly re-used and health care providers did not glove or wash their hands between patients. But those days are at least 60 years behind us and probably more like 100 years or more.
I really would not worry about this and would not suggest you be retested. But do feel free to discuss it with your doctor's office if you remain concerned.
I hope these comments are somewhat helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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1 months ago
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Thank you for your response. Normal process was to use a new disposable probe cover for each patient. After the exam they thought it was lost in me, but one was not found, so it must have mistakenly not been put on at all. At that point I was worried and asked whether the probe was also cleaned between patients and they said yes and showed me the wipes.
If they didn’t really clean or clean well because they usually use probe covers, would I still be not at risk? Do these STI viruses and bacteria survive enough on hard surfaces to be infective even if not killed by the cleaner?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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I'm unaware of data on survival of STI bacteria and viruses on "hard surfaces". But these pathogens are not likely to survive at all if contaminated secretions had time to dry -- so unless a previous patient had been examined within perhaps 20-30 minutes, there would have been little risk even without disinfection. And then you could consider the nature of the gyn practice: STIs are uncommon in the practices of most ObGs. And you still have the fact of the disinfectant wipes and the absence of any known cases in >50 years of persons infected in the manner you are concerned about. Truly I see no cause for worry.
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Of course you are free to be tested anyway if you feel you need the additional reassurance of negative test results. But for sure I would not do it if somehow it were me -- or my daughter, wife, etc.
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