SWAB CULTURE AND SENSITIVITY >

Swab Culture and Sensitivity

SPECIMEN COLLECTION:
A. Wound Swab
1. The wound must be cleansed with sterile saline solution to irrigate any purulent debris.
2. Moisten the sterile cotton swab (Amies transport swab) by using sterile saline solution
3. Without touching the swab to the surrounding wound edges or skin, rotate tip of the swab over a 1 cm area at the center of the open wound for 5 seconds. Apply sufficient pressure to cause tissue fluid to be expressed.
4. Place the swab inside its transport tube, label the swab properly with the patient's name and specimen type

B. Throat Swab
1. Using a sterile tongue depressor, press the patient's tongue and have the patient say "Ah". This is to expose the patient's posterior pharynx.
2. Extend sterile cotton swab (Amies transport swab) between tonsillar pillars and behind the uvula, avoiding the tongue, buccal mucosa and uvula.
3. Sweep the swab back and forth across the posterior pharynx, tonsillar areas, and inflammed or exudative areas.
NOTE: Do not obtain specimens if the epiglottis is inflamed, since sampling may trigger life-threatening obstruction.
4. Place the swab inside the AMIES transport media, label the swab properly with the patient's name and specimen type.

C. Nasal Swab
1. Insert the swab approximately 2 cm into the (approximately 3/4 inches) naris.
2. Rotate the swab against the anterior nasal mucosa for 3 seconds.
3. Place the swab back into the AMIES transport tube.

• Microbial culture is a test done to determine the type of microorganism that is causing an illness or infection.
• Sensitivity or Susceptibility test determines which antimicrobial agent will inhibit the growth of the detected microorganism causing the illness or infection.
• Results from these tests will help determine which drugs are most likely to be effective in treating a patient’s infection.

AMIES transport tube (most recommended)

NEGATIVE: 48 hours
POSITIVE: Additional 2-3 days from the day suspected pathogenic bacterial growth is detected.