Swabbing for respiratory viral infections in older patients: a comparison of rayon and nylon flocked swabs

• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-010-1064-2
• Publication Date: 2010-09-17T09:51:53Z
• Authors: S. S. Hernes; H. Quarsten; E. Hagen; A. L. Lyngroth; A. H. Pripp; B. Bjorvatn; P. S. Bakke
• Keywords: Medical microbiology; Respiratory tract

The purpose of this study was to compare the sampling efficacy rayon swabs and nylon flocked swabs, oropharyngeal nasopharyngeal specimens for detection respiratory viruses in elderly patients. Samples were obtained from patients 60 years age or above who newly admitted Sorlandet Hospital Arendal, Norway. interviewed current symptoms a tract infection. Using comparable sets mucosal samples harvested nasopharynx oropharynx. analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. A total 223 (mean 74.9 years, standard deviation [SD] 9.0 years) swabbed virus recovered 11% symptomatic Regardless site, calculated 4.8 times higher viral load (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–17, p = 0.017) as compared swabs. Also, regardless type swab, 19 found oropharynx CI 5.4–67.4, < 0.001). When swabbing patients, rather than should be obtained. Nylon appear more efficient