The prolonged survival of upper respiratory tract and intestinal pathogens on swabs.

The provision of a diagnostic bacceriological service is an integral part of the duties of a public health laboratory; while this service operates satisfactorily within the metropolitan area, many medical practitioners in the country areas fail to avail themselves of it. Probably this is mainly due to the feeling that the chances of survival of some bacterial pathogens during two or more days' transport are extremely small. In the hope that this difficulty might be overcome, the survival of a variety of bacterial pathogens has been examined, particularly in relation to the use of the various means of transporting clinical specimens recommended by various authors.