title: Improved rate of isolation of Neisseria meningitidis by direct plating of pharyngeal swabs.
abstract: Culturing of pharyngeal swabs for Neisseria meningitidis is an important clinical and epidemiological tool. Routine methods include direct plating onto solid medium or later plating in the laboratory. A comparison of these methods used with 490 high school students found a significantly higher carriage rate with direct plating (11.8 versus 6.1%; P < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Public Health Laboratory, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, United Kingdom. richard.cunningham@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewendon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media