Rectal swab cultures for Clostridium difficile surveillance studies.
We compared the recovery of Clostridium difficile from hospitalized patients by two collection methods: rectal swabs and stool cultures. Rectal swab cultures were as sensitive as stool cultures and were more easily obtained. Transport of swabs in an anaerobic VACUTAINER system resulted in longer survival times compared with transport in Amies medium.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
L V
LV
McFarland
M B
MB
Coyle
W H
WH
Kremer
W E
WE
Stamm
D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003470:Culture Media; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media