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culture of wound

Indications: - wound infection Specimen: 1) purulent material or abscess contents (without contamination by normal flora) 2) swab culture of wound surface exudates of no value due to inevitable contamination [3] 3) cleanse wound with normal saline, then rotate a swab over a 1 cm area with sufficient pressure to express fluid from the wound tissue beneath the wound surface; culture may reveal true pathogen [3] 4) minimum volume: 2 swabs or 0.5 mL of aspirated pus 5) container: a) sterile culturette type swab or similar transport system with a tight-fitting screw cap b) if anaerobic cultures are obtained at the same time, send specimen in anaerobic transport device or closed syringe Notes: 1) abscess contents or other fluids should be collected in a syringe when possible 2) biopsy or needle aspiration more reliable than swab culture [2]

Specific

aerobic wound culture

General

culture of body fluid

References

  1. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 491
  2. Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004; 7th edition 2010
  3. Geriatrics at your Fingertips, 13th edition, 2011 Reuben DB et al (eds) American Geriatric Society