• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 2019

The absorption and release capacities, survival efficiency, and recovery rates of five kinds of transport media were evaluated based on the swab elution method (Quantitative) of CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) M40-A2. Liquid media showed mostly better results than semi-solid media in the three evaluations. The flocked swabs had better ability to absorption and discharge bacteria than the standard swabs. The liquid medium (S4) had the best survival efficiency. Pneumococcal strains with poor growth had a higher survival efficiency and recovery rate in liquid media (S4, S5). The results of microbial recovery showed that S. pyogenes met all the CLSI standards in all media. S. pneumoniae was inadequate in the semi- solid media (S2, S3) and all the remaining media met the criteria. H. influenzae was unsuitable in semi-solid media (S1, S3) and met the criteria in semi-solid medium (S2) and liquid medium (S4, S5). The viability of the H. influenzae, pneumococcal strain causing respiratory disease, was poor in most media. Overgrowth of P. aeruginosa was observed at room temperature. The combination of liquid medium and flocked swab confirmed the best results in the three evaluation methods.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Purpose: Diabetic foot infection is one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes mellitus that delays healing of the wound. Deep tissue biopsy is considered to be the gold standard method for antibiotic selection in treating infected chronic diabetic ulcers. However, swab culture or superficial tissue biopsy is often performed for a microbiologic test since deep tissue biopsy has limitations in application. The purpose of this study is to find out whether microbiologic results of swab culture or superficial tissue biopsy could be used for selection of antibiotics in treating diabetic ulcers. Methods: This study involved 42 patients with diabetic foot ulcers with negative results in bone probing test. Tissue samples for microbiologic tests were collected from all the patients by using superficial cotton swab, superficial tissue, and deep tissue. The microbiologic results of deep tissue biopsy were compared with swab culture and superficial tissue biopsy statistically. Results: Microbiology of the deep tissue showed the same results with those of the swab culture and superficial tissue in 67% and 71%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the microbiology of the swab culture and superficial tissue does not coincide with that of the deep tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that the microbiology of the swab culture and superficial tissue is not concordant with that of the deep tissue in infected chronic diabetic ulcers. To select appropriate antibiotic regimen, the speci specimen for the microbiologic test should be obtained from deep tissue.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2010

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis is notorious with its complexity and healing difficulties. Bone biopsy is considered to be the gold standard method of guidance for antibiotic therapy. However, it is often replaced by cultures of ulcer swabs or by superficial samples because of the technical difficulties and possible adverse events. In this study, we compared microbiologic results of bone biopsy with those of superficial tissue biopsy or swab culture to investigate concordance and diagnostic value in bone involved diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: This study involved 106 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who showed positive results in bone probing test. Tissue samples for microbiologic tests were collected from all the patients by using superficial cotton swab, superficial tissue biopsy, and bone biopsy. The microbiologic results of bone biopsy were compared with swab culture and superficial tissue biopsy statistically. Results: The positive predictive value of bone probing test for underlying osteomyelitis was 82.1%. Microbiology of the bone biopsy showed same results with those of the swab culture and superficial tissue in 64% and 63%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the microbiology of the swab culture or superficial tissue did not coincide with that of the bone biopsy. Conclusion: These results suggest that the microbiologic results of superficial tissue or swab culture do not coincide with those of bony tissue. To select appropriate antibiotic regimen for diabetic ulcer with bone involvement, the specimen for the microbiologic test should be obtained from involved bone.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 1996

Purpose : The most patients with acute streptococcal pharyngitis lack of classic clinical manifestations, therefore diagnostic laboratory test such as the throat culture or a rapid antigen detection test are frequently employed in primary practices of developed countries. We'd like to know the accuracy of the throat swab culture as gold standard for diagnosis of streptococcal infection with studying the discordant and concordant rate of duplicate culture. Methods : The study included 89 normal school children (boys:50, girls:39) who were attending Uljin primary school in Uljin, Kyong Sang Buk Do on March 1996. We obtained simultaneous 2 times of throat swab from each subject, and plating and streaking on 5-7% of sheep blood agar separately. We counted the characteristic beta-hemolytic colonies after overnight incubation. Results : 1) The carrier rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci at first culture is 25.1% and second one is 29.2%. 2) Ten out of 89(11.2%) is discordant in duplicate culture. 3) Culture containing less than 50 colonies of beta-hemolytic streptococci (+2) in first culture is 70.4%, second one is 85.7%. 4) Number of colonies is less than 50 in all ten discordant children. Conclusions : The discordant rate of duplicate throat swab cullture for beta-hemolytic streptococci is 11.2%, even if the subjects are normal school children. About 5% of individuals harboring beta-hemolytic streptococci in the pharynx may be missed by a single throat culture. If we are trying to examine the patients with pharyngitis, the discordant rate will be much lower than this results.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2023

Transporting clinical samples for microbiological testing requires a proper transport medium that guarantees the survival of microorganisms. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the ability of Amies Transport Medium (ATM) to maintain the viability of microorganisms in clinical specimens and its suitability as a transport medium for microbiological testing. This study evaluated the performance of swab provided by KS Co., Ltd. for three groups of bacteria comprising aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, and fastidious bacteria, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) 8.11.2. The ATM stability test was conducted by dividing the medium into two groups based on the product expiration date of use. All tested media, A and B (the date of manufacture and expiration date are different) showed ≥5 CFU, and there was no significant difference in the result values of Category A and Category B with different serial numbers for each test. The results of this experiment when cross-checked with the guidelines suggest that ATM is a suitable transport medium for microbiological testing, as it maintains the viability of microorganisms and is suitable for overgrowth trials. In addition, compared to the number of CFUs at the origin, the number of CFUs did not increase by more than 1 log after storage. These results have important implications for the development of transport media that can guarantee the survival of microorganisms in clinical specimens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.351-360
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• 2002

The Korean fresh pork loins in vacuum packaged were obtained from three different Korean export companies and investigated for microbiological and sensory properties. The fresh pork loins were stored at 2$^{\circ}C$ for 50 days and analyzed with an interval of 5$\sim$10 days. The results were as follows: The overall numbers of total plate counts and coliform bacteria were higher in swab method than in meat sampling method. The total plate counts in the loins from the company I were maintained low levels ($\prec$10$^5$ cfu/$cm^2$ or $\prec$10$^5$ cfu/g) for entire storage periods(50 days at 2$^{\circ}C$), whereas the loins from the company III had high levels when they were compared to the domestic standard for the allowance limit. The samples from the company III showed that total plate counts were over 106 after about 30 days when determined by meat sampling method and total plate counts were over 106 after 15 days when determined by swab method. The overall numbers of coliform bacteria were also significantly lowest in the samples from the company I, whereas they were highest in the company III. Therefore, all meat companies will have to make an effort to prevent bacterial contamination in each stage such as slaughtering, marketing and consumer in order to ensure the production of safe meat and the extension of shelf-life. For fresh products, scores of intramuscular fat were higher in samples form the companies II and III than those from the company I when visibly evaluated with the standard. There were no significant differences in scores of meat color, drip and fresh meat flavor. However, the samples from the company I had the lowest score of off-flavor and highest score of overall acceptability. For cooked products, there were no significant differences in meat flavor, off-flavor, juiciness and overall acceptability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1611-1618
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• 2005

The microbiological examinations were conducted for the hygienic evaluation on three Korean restaurants during summer season in Busan, Korea. Total one hundred and sixty swabbed samples using sponge were collected from the surface of facilities and utensils at restaurants and total and coliform counts were measured. Also thirty- six air samples were collected at inside of three restaurants for measuring total, coliform, Staphy-lococcus and mold and yeast counts. All collected samples kept in an ice-packed box were transported to the laboratory and analyzed. The results demonstrated that most swabbed samples were highly contaminated with microorganisms and coliforms. The degree of contamination depended on the sampling sites. Averages of total counts of surface swab samples were ranged from not detectable to 2.14$\times\10^{9}$/200 $cm^{2}$, while those of coliforms from not detectable to 8.34$\times\10^{7}$/200 $cm^{2}$/200 $cm^{2}$. Microorganisms also detected from most agar strips of air samples for total, coliform, Staphylococcus and mold and yeast counts. The severely contaminated sites were floor, trench, water bottle, plastic drainer, rubber gloves, shelves, and unsealed wet towel. Those sites should be focused and controlled according to control Points of sanitation standard operating Procedures. Also, periodic microbiological examination in addition to visual examination should be applied on those highly contaminated sites for reducing risk of foodborne disease outbreak at restaurants

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2011

This study carried out to investigate the pathogenic Streptococcus spp. isolated from respiratory tract of Thoroughbred in Jeju province. The specimens were collected from nasal mucosa using a culture swab from 113 Thoroughbred horses. Suspected colonies were selected onto blood and MacConkey agar plate, and identified by standard biochemical properties using Vitek 2 system and PCR method. In this study, we isolated S. equi (n=6), S. zooepidemicus (n=31), S. equisimilis (n=5), S. dysgalactiae (n=2), S. agalctiae (n=1), non identified ${\beta}$-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. (n=1) from Thoroughbred horses. In antimicrobial susceptibility test, it showed a high sensibility in the most of antimicrobial except for neomycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin. These results will provide the basic information to establish control measures for the treatment and prevention of respiratory disease by pathogenic Streptococcus spp. in Thoroughbred horses in Korea.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), the infection has spread worldwide due to the highly contagious nature of severe acute syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). To manage SARS-CoV-2, the development of diagnostic assays that can quickly and accurately identify the disease in patients is necessary. Currently, nucleic acid-based testing and serology-based testing are two widely used approaches. Of these, nucleic acid-based testing with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) using nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) swabs is considered to be the gold standard. Recently, the use of saliva samples has been considered as an alternative method of sample collection. Compared to the NP and OP swab methods, saliva specimens have several advantages. Saliva specimens are easier to collect. Self-collection of saliva specimens can reduce the risk of infection to healthcare providers and reduce sample collection time and cost. Until recently, the sensitivity and accuracy of the data obtained using saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection was controversial. However, recent clinical research has found that sensitive and reliable data can be obtained from saliva specimens using RT-qPCR, with approximately 81% to 95% correspondence with the data obtained from NP and OP swabs. These data suggest that self-collected saliva is an alternative option for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.226-230
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• 2012

The gross alpha analysis of nasal smear samples for the radiation emergency and the additional follow-up steps were established. Cotton swab sticks using in local hospitals for nasal smear in Korea were used for the verification. The measurement results of standard samples spiked with certified reference source were well agreed within ${\pm}20%$ compared with reference values. The clearance ratio of smear samples conducted with wet smear condition showed higher value. To eliminate the quenching effect of liquid scintillation samples, dry of smear samples should be followed up before counting samples. Based on the measurement results, medical decision levels and internal dose assessment were established for the victims in the beginning of radiation emergency.