Swabs Compared for Pediatric Enteropathogens
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 25 Oct 2017 |
Image: The xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel is a multiplexed nucleic acid test intended for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of multiple viral, parasitic, and bacterial nucleic acids in human stools (Photo courtesy of Luminex).
Diarrheal stool samples are currently preferred for enteropathogen detection, but they are inconvenient to collect if they are not immediately available, leading to suboptimal return rates and delayed or missed diagnostic opportunities.
It is sometimes difficult to collect a sufficient fecal sample from pediatric patients, so a comparison of enteropathogen yields of rectal swabs and stool specimens in an outpatient cohort of children with diarrhea and/or vomiting has been conducted.
A team of scientists working with the University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada) studied an outpatient cohort of children who were less than 18 years of age, with equal to or greater than three episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in 24 hours and with less than seven days of symptoms. The team attempted to collect rectal swabs and stool from all participants. Specimens were subjected to testing with the xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, an in-house 5-virus panel and bacterial culture. Primary outcomes were comparative (submitted paired specimens only) and overall (all specimens, unsubmitted specimens analyzed as negative) yields.
Of the 1,519 subjects enrolled, 1,147 (75.5%) and 1,514 (99.7%) provided stool and swab specimens, respectively. The proportions of specimens positive for any pathogen were 75.9% (871/1147) and 67.6% (1024/1514). Comparative yield adjusted odds ratio (OR) in stool relative to swabs were 1.24 and 1.76 in children with and without diarrhea at presentation, respectively. Overall concordance analysis yielded a kappa of 0.76. Paired positive viral specimens had a lower median cycle threshold value that is higher viral loads in stool samples compared with swabs for all viruses. In overall yield analysis, the proportions positive for a pathogen was 57.3% and 67.4% for stool and rectal swabs, respectively; unadjusted OR: 0.65 for stool relative to swab.
The authors concluded that rectal swabs should be performed when enteropathogen identification, and/or rapid detection, is needed, molecular diagnostic technology available, and stool not immediately available. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) held October 4-8, 2017, in San Diego, CA, USA.
Related Links:
University of Calgary
It is sometimes difficult to collect a sufficient fecal sample from pediatric patients, so a comparison of enteropathogen yields of rectal swabs and stool specimens in an outpatient cohort of children with diarrhea and/or vomiting has been conducted.
A team of scientists working with the University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada) studied an outpatient cohort of children who were less than 18 years of age, with equal to or greater than three episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in 24 hours and with less than seven days of symptoms. The team attempted to collect rectal swabs and stool from all participants. Specimens were subjected to testing with the xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, an in-house 5-virus panel and bacterial culture. Primary outcomes were comparative (submitted paired specimens only) and overall (all specimens, unsubmitted specimens analyzed as negative) yields.
Of the 1,519 subjects enrolled, 1,147 (75.5%) and 1,514 (99.7%) provided stool and swab specimens, respectively. The proportions of specimens positive for any pathogen were 75.9% (871/1147) and 67.6% (1024/1514). Comparative yield adjusted odds ratio (OR) in stool relative to swabs were 1.24 and 1.76 in children with and without diarrhea at presentation, respectively. Overall concordance analysis yielded a kappa of 0.76. Paired positive viral specimens had a lower median cycle threshold value that is higher viral loads in stool samples compared with swabs for all viruses. In overall yield analysis, the proportions positive for a pathogen was 57.3% and 67.4% for stool and rectal swabs, respectively; unadjusted OR: 0.65 for stool relative to swab.
The authors concluded that rectal swabs should be performed when enteropathogen identification, and/or rapid detection, is needed, molecular diagnostic technology available, and stool not immediately available. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) held October 4-8, 2017, in San Diego, CA, USA.
Related Links:
University of Calgary
Latest Microbiology News
- Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
- Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
- Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Decision Support Software a Game-Changer in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle
- New CE-Marked Hepatitis Assays to Help Diagnose Infections Earlier
- 1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia