Stethoscope diaphragms were sampled randomly for bacteria culture and identification from nursing and medical staff in 3 community health institutions in Zhongshan city. Anonymous filling in questionnaire was taken for investigating frequency of cleaning stethoscope by staff. A total of 100 stethoscope diaphragms were sampled, and a total of 523 bacteria strains were isolated. Eighty-six percent of stethoscopes surveyed were contaminated with bacteria, among the isolated organisms, G+ bacteria and G-bacteria accounted for 78% and 22% respectively. The Bacterial contamination rate and G- rate of stethoscopes used by inpatient staff were 6. 2 strains and 2. 1 strains per stethoscope respectively, which were significantly higher than those used by outpatient staff (4. 8 strain and 1. 1 strain per stethoscope, P ＜0. 05 and P < 0. 01, respectively). A total of 105 questionnaires showed that 21% (6/28) of nursing staff cleaned stethoscope monthly, meanwhile 12% (7/56) of outpatient medical staff and 14% (3/21) of inpatient medical staff (P ＜0. 01) did so; 29% (8/28) of nursing staff cleaned their stethoscopes once a year or never, meanwhile, the figures for outpatient and inpatient medical staff were 55% (31/56) and 57% (12/21) respectively (P ＜0. 01). Results indicate that there is high rate of bacterial contamination in stethoscopes, and G- is more frequently found in stethoscopes used by inpatient staff than outpatient. In general, the frequency of stethoscope cleaning is low, however, more frequently for nursing staff than medical staff.