Viability of bacterial enteropathogens in fecal samples in the presence or absence of different types of transport media.

Transport media are recommended to improve the sensitivity of fecal culture, but there are limited published data comparing bacterial viability in feces stored with or without transport media. In this study, recovery of bacteria from culture-positive feces after 7 days of storage was assessed under the following conditions: without transport media (w/oTM); with FecalSwab™ Transport and Preservation Medium (FSTM); and with modified Cary-Blair (mCB). All Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) positive specimens (n = 23) and ≥97.5% of Salmonella-positive specimens (n = 40) remained positive under all conditions. Campylobacter (n = 41) was isolated from 82.9% of feces stored in mCB, 68.4% in FSTM, and 70.7% w/oTM; Shigella (n = 14) 85.7%, 78.6%, and 78.6%; and Yersinia (n = 16) 93.8%, 87.5%, and 81.3%, respectively (P = 0.076, Cochran's Q). Transport media were not required for STEC or Salmonella. mCB may be better than w/oTM or FSTM for other pathogens, but an evaluation with a larger number of specimens is required.