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anaerobic culture

Indications: - anaerobic infection Specimen: 1) transport in anaerobic transport vial or swabs in anaerobic transport tubes 2) do NOT refrigerate 3) blood, body fluids, pus, surgical tissue Notes: Gram stain should also be performed. Sites that contain anaerobes as normal flora are NOT suitable: 1) throat 2) rectum 3) cervix/vagina 4) sputum 5) feces Swabs are inferior to aspirates. Anaerobic cultures of swab specimen 1) limited to screening procedure 2) reported only by gram stain morphology Clues to presence of anaerobic infection: 1) putrid-smelling discharge 2) infections adjacent to a mucosal surface 3) presence of gas in tissues 4) infection in necrotic avascular tissue 5) gram-stain showing mixed, pleomorphic bacterial flora 6) negative cultures for aerobes with positive gram stain 7) infection following the use of aminoglycosides 8) septic thrombophlebitis 9) septic abortion 10) post-gastrointestinal surgery

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anaerobe anaerobic infection

General

bacterial culture

References

  1. Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed., W.B. Saunders, 1995
  2. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 492
  3. Culture, Anaerobic Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 60143
  4. Organism Identification, Anaerobic Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 60164
  5. Anaerobe ID/Susceptibility Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 60198