title: Standard method for detecting upper respiratory carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae: updated recommendations from the World Health Organization Pneumococcal Carriage Working Group.
abstract: In 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a working group and published a set of standard methods for studies measuring nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). The working group recently reconvened under the auspices of the WHO and updated the consensus standard methods. These methods describe the collection, transport and storage of nasopharyngeal samples, as well as provide recommendations for the identification and serotyping of pneumococci using culture and non-culture based approaches. We outline the consensus position of the working group, the evidence supporting this position, areas worthy of future research, and the epidemiological role of carriage studies. Adherence to these methods will reduce variability in the conduct of pneumococcal carriage studies undertaken in the context of pneumococcal vaccine trials, implementation studies, and epidemiology studies more generally so variability in methodology does not confound the interpretation of study findings.
authors: Pneumococcal Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for International Child Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: catherine.satzke@mcri.edu.au.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Satzke
authors: Microbiology Department, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia; Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Turner
authors: Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Anni
authors: A
authors: Virolainen-Julkunen
authors: MRC/Wits Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Peter V
authors: PV
authors: Adrian
authors: Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Antonio
authors: Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
authors: Kim M
authors: KM
authors: Hare
authors: Initiative for Vaccine Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Henao-Restrepo
authors: Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
authors: Amanda J
authors: AJ
authors: Leach
authors: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Keith P
authors: KP
authors: Klugman
authors: Pneumococcal Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Barbara D
authors: BD
authors: Porter
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Human Pathogens, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Sá-Leão
authors: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: J Anthony
authors: JA
authors: Scott
authors: Vaccine Programme Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Nohynek
authors: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Katherine L
authors: KL
authors: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Carriage; Colonization; Nasopharynx; Pneumococcus