Relation of culture site to the recovery of nonpolio enteroviruses.

The relative utilities of rectal swab, throat swab, stool, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures for the recovery of nonpolio enteroviruses were retrospectively evaluated for 81 patients who had one or more positive cultures. Of 33 stool cultures submitted, 32 (97%) were positive; of 52 throat swabs submitted, 35 (67%) were positive; of 29 rectal swabs, 20 (69%) were positive. Of 16 patients for whom both sites were simultaneously sampled, stool cultures were positive for 15, but throat cultures were positive for only six. Seven other patients who had positive throat cultures had simultaneous rectal swab cultures that were negative. For patients who had aseptic meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid was positive in only nine of 21 cultures, whereas stool was positive in all of 12 cultures. Stool should be cultured for all patients suspected of having nonpolio enterovirus infections; rectal swabs are inadequate substitutes for stool cultures.