title: Effect of stool storage at room temperature on salmonella isolation from faeces.
abstract: Stools, known to have contained salmonellas were cultured in three enrichment media on arrival at the laboratory. The three media were laboratory prepared selenite F, laboratory prepared Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate and commercially obtained Oxoid Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate (CM343). Where faecal samples were sufficiently large, they were stored at room temperature and re-examined using the same three enrichment broths. Whether fresh or stored stools were investigated, the laboratory prepared media were significantly more efficient than the commercial medium. In a straight comparison of the two laboratory prepared media, no significant difference in efficiency was evident with fresh stool samples. With stored specimens, however, Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate was significantly better than selenite F. This finding might be relevant in examining samples delayed in the post.
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020887:Selenious Acid; D012643:Selenium; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013696:Temperature; D013776:Tetrathionic Acid
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013776:Tetrathionic Acid; D020887:Selenious Acid; D012643:Selenium