It is NOT just stethoscope that can spread infection.
During those four days i spent in a hospital in December, four young nurses would come in a group.
One would put the oxymeter in one of my middle fingers. The other will draw blood for the strip test
for blood sugar from the other middle finger.
A third one will put the digital thermometer in my armpit and
the fourth will juggle to measure the blood pressure.
NOTHING was cleaned in between uses on different patients.
If one of the patients was suffering from some kind of skin infection in his arm pit area,
it was guaranteed that every other in-patient at that time will get it.
The digital thermometer had weird smell like the sweat of men traveling in the bus
wearing the same unwashed shirts over many days.
If we come out without catching more infections... we are really very lucky!