Efficacy of a swab transport system in maintaining long-term viability of Staphylococcus aureus.
The noncharcoal liquid Amies swab transport system (Copan, Bovezzo, Italy) can be used for the collection and transport of biologic samples from carriers and infected patients for the detection of strains of Staphylococcus aureus in epidemiologic field studies. We suggest that the maximum holding time, between swab collection and culture, should be 18 days.
Delacour
Hervé
H
Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Bégin, 94 163 Saint Mandé, France. h_delacour@yahoo.fr
Van Cuyck
Hélène
H
Dubrous
Philippe
P
Soullié
Bruno
B
Leroy
Philippe
P
Koeck
Jean Louis
JL
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification