• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Improving the Quality of Nasal Specimen Collection for Influenza A and B Screening

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
J Emerg Nurs. 2017 Mar 23. pii: S0099-1767(16)30218-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2016.09.008. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]Improving the Quality of Nasal Specimen Collection for Influenza A and B Screening.[/h] Widmer JC[SUP]1[/SUP], DiNapoli PP[SUP]2[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]PROBLEM:[/h] Rapid diagnosis of seasonal influenza leads to optimized clinical care and reduces the spread of infection. The collection of adequate cellular material can be facilitated by the presence of moisture in the nares. The specific aim of this project was to determine if the installation of sterile saline into the nares prior to specimen collection would improve the quality of the specimen.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] This quasi-experimental single group design tested an initial "dry swab" specimen against a second swab after instillation of sterile saline solution using a nasal atomizer, a "wet swab."
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] A total of 80 paired specimens were collected and analyzed between December 7, 2015, and April 21, 2016, with an 11.25% infection rate in those tested. Of 9 positive tests, 6 subjects tested positive for influenza A or B for both the dry swab and the wet swab. Three subjects tested positive for influenza A or B for only the wet swab, and these subjects had experienced their symptoms longer than did subjects who tested positive for both methods (mean symptom onset of 72 hours vs 66 hours). We found an important inconsistency between manufacturers' recommendations and typical hospital practice.
[h=4]IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:[/h] The results appear somewhat equivocal. Because viral shedding declines after the first 48 to 72 hours in adults, the wet swab method may be clinically superior for detecting influenza in adults presenting later in the course of their illness. Hospital policy was revised for consistency in using the gel medium before sampling in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
Copyright ? 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Influenza; Nasal swab; Patient comfort; Practice improvement; Specimen collection; Viral shedding

PMID: 28343691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2016.09.008
 
Back
Top Bottom