FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diego, CA — March 19, 2026 — AseptiScope®, a healthcare innovation company advancing standard of care in infection prevention, today announced that Infection Control Today has published a major feature in its March 2026 issue highlighting clinical leaders in infection prevention and health systems adopting The DiskCover® System, the first automated, touch-free stethoscope hygiene solution designed to ensure aseptic patient contact during every exam.
The article, “Stethoscope Hygiene Gaps Persist: Infection Prevention Leaders Call for Workflow-Based Solutions to Reduce HAIs,” brings together national infection-prevention experts who describe how stethoscope contamination remains a persistent risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and why effective solutions must integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows.
Clinical Leaders Highlight the Stethoscope Hygiene Gap
The panel emphasized that stethoscope hygiene solutions must integrate seamlessly into clinical workflow to achieve real adoption and compliance.
“No publication has shown that cleaning alone solves this problem. Even when done according to guidance, it does not fully protect patients from resistant pathogens,” said W. Frank Peacock, MD, FACEP, FACC, FESC, professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer of AseptiScope. “Most healthcare professionals want to protect their patients. You just have to make it easy for them. The DiskCover System is easy, immediate, and workflow compatible, addressing this issue.”
Infection Prevention Innovators Confirm the Real-World Impact of The DiskCover System
Among the experts featured is Naomi Ragsdale, BSN, RN, infection control nurse at the Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. (Memphis) VA Medical Center, implemented The DiskCover® System as part of a central line infection prevention bundle.
“It’s such an easy way to prevent contamination,” said Naomi. “Having this information, we can’t just ignore it now.”
Following their implementation, the VA team reported an 84% reduction in central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) among Veterans. If scaled nationwide, these results could translate to up to 50,000 fewer CLABSI cases each year in the U.S., with an estimated $1.5 billion in annual healthcare cost savings.
The team also tested disposable stethoscopes, but clinicians strongly rejected them.
“After we implemented the disk covers, we surveyed clinicians and 100% preferred the barrier over disposable stethoscopes,” said Wendy Simpson, MSN, RN, CCRN, FCCS, infection preventionist and critical care nurse at the Memphis VA Medical Center. “We can’t hear anything with those, they’re like a Fisher-Price stethoscope. We’ve always hated them… [The DiskCover System] is far superior from an acoustic standpoint.”
The article also highlights Natalia G. Nunez, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, infection prevention leader at Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute, who implemented The DiskCover System facility-wide across the institute’s 200+ bed oncology facility to protect highly vulnerable immunocompromised patients.
For Nunez, the elevated patient experience is an important factor. “For our cancer patients who are often immunocompromised, any contamination risk can quicky become very dangerous for them…” Nunez explained, “a disposable diaphragm like the disk cover provides that additional protective barrier, so they can feel safe while they’re receiving the care they need.”
The impact is catching on, as a number of Florida healthcare facilities have now followed suit and are integrating The DiskCover System to protect their immunocompromised patients.
A Growing Opportunity for Innovation
Healthcare-associated infections remain one of the most costly and preventable challenges facing hospitals today, costing U.S. health systems billions of dollars annually while placing vulnerable patients at risk.
“The DiskCover System is helping hospitals close a critical infection-prevention gap that has persisted for decades,” said Scott Mader, CEO of AseptiScope. “Seeing respected infection-prevention leaders validate this approach in Infection Control Today reinforces the growing momentum behind workflow-based solutions that protect patients while supporting clinicians.”
About Infection Control Today
Infection Control Today is one of the leading publications for infection preventionists, epidemiologists, and healthcare leaders. The March 2026 feature highlights the growing consensus that stethoscope hygiene must be addressed as a serious patient-safety issue and that effective solutions must align with clinical workflow to achieve adoption.
About AseptiScope®
AseptiScope is a San Diego-based medical technology company dedicated to advancing infection prevention through automated clinical hygiene solutions.
Its flagship product, The DiskCover® System, is the first automated stethoscope barrier dispenser designed to eliminate stethoscope-to-patient pathogen transmission while integrating seamlessly into everyday clinical care.
Learn more at:
www.aseptiscope.com
Media Contact
Anthony Pham
Market Development Director
AseptiScope, Inc.
apham@aseptiscope.com
(858) 382-8142
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