title: Random colony selection versus colony morphology for detection of multiple pneumococcal serotypes in nasopharyngeal swabs.
abstract: Detection of multiple serotype carriage is important in understanding pneumococcal epidemiology. We compared random selection of 4 pneumococcal colonies per swab with selection by colony morphology. Multiple serotypes were detected in 20% of 98 swabs; 14% by morphology and 17% by random selection. Selection by morphology was more efficient per colony, but underestimated the true rate of multiple carriage.
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim Maree
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith-Vaughan
authors.forename: Amanda Jane
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Leach
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State; D006801:Humans; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*