TABLE 3.
Distribution of the number of M. catarrhalis 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 M. catarrhalis
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls (n = 200) | Patients (n = 300) | Merged data (%b) (n = 500) | |
| OPS | 30 | 43 | 73 (72) |
| NPS | 12 | 28 | 40c (39) |
| NPW | 10 | 24 | 34 (33) |
| NPS and/or NPW | 14 | 33 | 47d (46) |
| OPS and/or NPS | 36 | 65 | 101 (99) |
| OPS and/or NPW | 35 | 60 | 95 (93) |
| OPS and/or NPS and/or NPW | 36 | 66 | 102 (100) |
a
OPS, oropharyngeal swab; NPS, nasopharyngeal swab; NPW, nasopharyngeal washing.
b
Percentage of isolates from the group of subjects positive for M. catarrhalis by at least one of the three sampling methods.
c
Nonsignificant compared to NPW.
d
P < 0.0004 compared to OPS.