Estudos sôbre Diarréias agudas. I Eficácia relativa da coprocultura comparada ao swab-retal no isolamento de Shigellas (Publicado originalmente em 1956)

Abstract

The rectal swab and the stool culture were compared in order to verify their relative efficacies in the isolation of Shigella. A total of 320 cases were included in this study. Triplicate examinations by swab and stool were attempted in each case but this was not always possible. There was a total of 652 examinations either by swab or stool. Of these 35.4% were positive by swab which only 19% were positive by stool. When divided into symptomatic groups according to those with blood in the stool and those without, there is a closer relationship and most especially when more then one examination is used. In cases with fever and blood and with three successive examinations by stool and swab 68% were positive by swab and 71% positive by stool culture. In cases with blood without fever, 64.5% were positive by swab and 58% by stool. In cases with fever only there were 23.6% positive by swab and 22.4% positive by stool. In milder cases, without either of these symptoms the swab gave 25.5% positive while the stool gave only 11.6%. Therefore it may be seen that except in milder cases the three successive stool culture closely approximates the swab and may be used as a satisfactory substitutes when for various reasons the swab cannot be used.