New Stethoscope Invention

Physician invents stethoscope cover to help fight infections.
The Boston Globe (3/21, Kueter) reported that physician Richard Ma, MD, has invented the Stethguard, a "necktie-shaped plastic sheath" that "slides up the scope's neckpiece" to help combat hospital-acquired infections. Should the invention work, it may save money and lives, as evidenced by the fact that "by late 2008, approximately $15,300 more per patient was spent to battle the infections, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Of the 1.7 million Americans who contract infections in hospitals each year, about 100,000 die from them, according to the department."