Alternative sampling methods for detecting bacterial pathogens in children with upper respiratory tract infections
Menno R van den Bergh1, Debby Bogaert, Lideke Dun
1Department of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|October 12, 2012
Summary
Alternative methods like nasal swabs and nose wiping effectively detect common respiratory bacteria in young children, offering a more tolerable option than traditional nasopharyngeal swabs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Respiratory health
Background:
- Nasopharyngeal sampling is standard for identifying upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) bacteria.
- This method requires specialized training and can be uncomfortable for patients, especially children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate alternative sampling methods for URTI bacteria detection in young children.
- To compare the efficacy of nasal swabs and nose wiping against nasopharyngeal swabs.
Main Methods:
- Children aged 0-4 years with rhinorrhea were recruited (n=66).
- Samples were collected using nasopharyngeal swabs, nasal swabs, and nose blowing/wiping into paper tissues.
- Bacterial cultures were performed for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Main Results:
- All tested bacteria were cultured at comparable rates across the three methods.
- High concordance (80-97%) was observed between the sampling techniques.
- Nasal swabs and nose wiping proved as reliable as nasopharyngeal swabs for bacterial detection.
Conclusions:
- Nasal swabs and nose wiping are reliable alternatives to nasopharyngeal swabs for detecting common URTI bacteria in young children.
- These alternative methods offer a more accessible and potentially better-tolerated approach to pediatric respiratory diagnostics.
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