Whenever we feel unwell or sick, we reach for a trusted aid – thermometer. This small device, tells us whether to rush to a Doctor or not. There are eight different types of thermometers. Traditional mercury-based and the latest digital ones are the most commonly used thermometers.
Unfortunately, most of the thermometers are rarely cleaned or properly sanitized. Many scientific studies have confirmed that thermometers can harbour germs and potentially transmit infections. Unclean thermometers may also exhibit wrong temperature readings.
Both oral and rectal thermometers touch a person's mucus membranes, and it could spread the pathogens, which are responsible for illnesses such as diarrhoea and urinary tract infection. Though digital thermometer does not actually come into direct contact with the skin, most of the time, these are handled by many people and are unhygienic.
Hence, it is important that the thermometers are properly and regularly cleaned. Disinfecting a thermometer is also very critical when it is to be used on children because they are more susceptible to sharing and spreading germs.
World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that thermometers, among other medical instruments, must be disinfected after every use. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC - USA), use of a disinfectant containing 60% alcohol is effective at killing germs. Water based 5th generation Quaternary Ammonium Compound based wipes can also be used to clean & disinfectant thermometers.
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