Feasibility of introducing rejection criteria for stool cultures in a teaching hospital in Portugal

The possible introduction of rejection criteria for stool cultures (less than or equal to3 days hospitalization and less than or equal to2 specimens) were investigated in a teaching hospital in Portugal. During 12 months, 854 specimens from 537 patients (37% of them adults) were observed. Sixteen percent of inpatients had a positive stool culture (adults 9.7%, pediatric 21.7%). Eighty-five percent had less than or equal to3 days of hospitalization. Application of the '3-day-rule' would have led to 12 missed cases. Only in three cases would previously proposed exceptions to the rejection criteria have applied. A '5-day-rule' and less than or equal to2 specimen/patients seem to be more suitable, based on the different hospital conditions present here.