Efficacy of a swab transport system in maintaining long-term viability of Staphylococcus aureus

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Nov;65(3):345-6. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.07.011. Epub 2009 Sep 2.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Humans
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification