Maintaining Viability of Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria from Wounds Using the New Sigma-Swab Transport System

Performance of a novel SIGMA-swab transport system for wound specimens was assessed by measuring recovery and viability of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacteroides fragilis under CLSI M40-A-aligned conditions. Across storage at room temperature and 4°C for up to 48 hours, all organisms were consistently recovered in both pure and mixed cultures, with no significant loss of viability or evidence of overgrowth. Stability was maintained even in the presence of nutrient-rich clinical material, supporting robust recovery of aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. These findings demonstrate that the SIGMA-swab transport system preserves bacterial viability under clinically relevant transport conditions and supports reliable downstream culture from wound specimens.