Commentary

Bernard, L., Kereveur, A., Durand, D., Gonot, J., Goldstein, F., Mainardi, J.L., Acar, J. and Carlet, J. (1999) `Bacterial Contamination of Hospital Physicians' Stethoscopes' , Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 20(9): 626-627 .

Charter, D. & Studd, H. (2001) `One in Three Hospital Wards “Filthy” ', The Times, 6 January.

Coello, R., Glenister, H., Fereres, J., Bartlett, C., Leigh, D., Sedgwick, J. and Cooke, E.M. (1993) `The Cost of Infection in Surgical Patients: A Case-control Study' , Journal of Hospital Infection 25: 87-106 .

Gallagher, R. (1999) `Infection Control: Public Health, Clinical Effectiveness and Education' , British Journal of Nursing 8(18): 1212-1214 .

Gerken, A., Cavanagh, S. and Winner, H.I. (1972) `Infection Hazard From Stethoscopes in Hospital' , The Lancet 3: 1211-1215 .

House of Commons Accounts Committee (2000) Attachment 4: Hospital Acquired Infection: Public Health Importance [UK] . Available online: http://www.parliament.the-stationary-off...cm200001/cmselect/cmhealth/30/30ap38.htm [Accessed 14/09/2001].

Nunez, S., Moreno, A., Green, K. and Villar, J. (2000) `The Stethoscope in the Emergency Department: A Vector of Infection?' , Epidemiology and Infection 124: 233-237 .