title: Comparison between nasal swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates for, and effect of time in transit on, isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
abstract: We assessed the impact of the use of nasal swabs or nasopharyngeal aspirates and the time from specimen collection to storage at -70 degrees C on bacterial isolation. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated significantly less often from swabs than from nasopharyngeal aspirates. Samples in transit for >3 days were half as likely to grow Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae as those in transit for < or =3 days. There was no statistically significant difference for either Moraxella catarrhalis or Staphylococcus aureus.
authors.affiliation: The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Carville
authors.forename: Jacinta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors