TABLE 1.
Distribution of the number of S. pneumoniae isolates by single sampling method and combinations of sampling methods, in the two patient groups and for the merged group
| Sampling method(s)a | No. of subjects positive for S. pneumoniae
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls (n = 200) | Patients (n = 300) | Merged data (%b) (n = 500) | |
| OPS | 3 | 13 | 16 (30) |
| NPS | 4 | 29 | 33c (61) |
| NPW | 4 | 37 | 41 (76) |
| NPS and/or NPW | 6 | 42 | 48d (89) |
| OPS and/or NPS | 6 | 36 | 42 (78) |
| OPS and/or NPW | 6 | 41 | 47 (87) |
| OPS and/or NPS and/or NPW | 8 | 46 | 54 (100) |
a
OPS, oropharyngeal swab; NPS, nasopharyngeal swab; NPW, nasopharyngeal washing.
b
Percentage of isolates from the group of subjects positive for S. pneumoniae by at least one of the three sampling methods.
c
Nonsignificant compared to NPW.
d
P < 0.00001 compared to OPS.