Stool received for routine culture in most clinical laboratories in the United States should be examined for the presence of at least:

Question

a. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella spp.
b. Salmonella and Shigella spp.
c. Campylobacter and Vibrio spp.
d. Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio spp.

Answer 1

A
Stool received for routine culture in most clinical laboratories in the United States should be examined for the presence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella spp. under all circums-tances. Detection of Aeromonas and Plesiomonas spp. should be incorporated into routine stool culture procedures. The cost of performing a stool examination on every patient for all potential enteric pathogens is prohibitive. The decision as to what other bacteria are routinely cultured should take into account the incidence of gastrointestinal tract infections caused by particular etiologic agents in the area served by the laboratory. For example, if the incidence of Yersinia enterocolitica gastroenteritis is high enough in the area served by the laboratory, then this agent should also be routinely sought. Similarly, because of the increasing prevalence of disease caused by Vibrio spp. in individuals living in high-risk areas of the United States (seacoast), laboratories in these locales may routinely look for these organisms.