title: Efficacy of a swab transport system in maintaining long-term viability of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Bégin, 94 163 Saint Mandé, France. h_delacour@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Delacour
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Cuyck
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubrous
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soullié
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Koeck
mesh_terms: 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