Wound Care and Infection Management

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Questions and Answers

When should a patient be swabbed for MRSA or VRE?

If they meet certain criteria or come into contact with another patient who has it (correct)

If they have a fever above 103°F

Only when they are discharged from the hospital

If they have a history of pneumonia

How is the MRSA swab collected?

By rolling the swab in the beginning of both sides of the nose (correct)

By collecting a sample from a bowel movement

By gently dipping the swab into the stoma of a patient with a colostomy

By inserting the swab into the patient's ear

What is the purpose of moistening the cotton tip with the gel?

To help the swab collect a sample (correct)

To make the swab more flexible

To disinfect the swab

To label the swab

What should be visible on the VRE swab?

Visible stool Signup and view all the answers

Why should the lab be notified when the swab is sent?

Because the patient is already taking MRSA or VRE medications Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of labeling the swab with the patient's name and the type of swab?

To ensure the swab is matched with the correct patient Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of collecting a wound specimen for culture and sensitivity?

To identify the organism present in the wound and guide medication administration Signup and view all the answers

Why should the wound be cleansed with normal saline prior to collecting a swab?

To prevent contamination of the specimen with skin flora or bacteria Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended technique for collecting a swab for aerobic culture?

Rotate the tip of the swab over a 1cm x 1cm area of viable tissue in the center of the wound for at least 5 seconds Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of collecting a nasal or throat swab in patients with symptoms of respiratory or sinus infection?

To identify the organism causing the respiratory or sinus infection Signup and view all the answers

Who is responsible for collecting specimens and sharing the results with the interprofessional team?

Nurses Signup and view all the answers

Why should culture swabs ideally be collected before a patient begins taking antibiotics?

To ensure accurate culture results Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of laboratory test results in patient care?

To provide information about the stage and activity of a disease process, and measure a patient's response to therapy Signup and view all the answers

How is the anaerobic culture collected?

By swabbing deeply into the body cavity and rotating gently Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wound Specimen Collection

A wound specimen for culture and sensitivity (C&S) is necessary to identify the organism present in the wound and determine the appropriate medication.
A swab must be collected from fresh exudate and the wound should be cleansed with normal saline prior to collection to avoid contamination.
For aerobic culture, the swab should be rolled over a 1cm x 1cm area of viable tissue in the center of the wound for at least 5 seconds.
For anaerobic culture, the swab should be inserted deeply into the body cavity and rotated gently or inserted into the wound and aspirated 5-10mls of exudate.

Laboratory Test Results

Laboratory test results aid in diagnosis, provide information about the stage and activity of a disease process, and measure a patient's response to therapy.
Nurses are accountable for collecting specimens, monitoring patient outcomes, and ensuring timely sharing of test results with the interprofessional team.

Nasal and Throat Swabs

Patients with symptoms of respiratory or sinus infection may require a nasal or throat swab for diagnostic purposes, which requires a physician's order.
Ideally, culture swabs should be collected before a patient begins taking antibiotics; if already taking antibiotics, the lab should be notified.

MRSA and VRE Swabs

Patients may need to be swabbed for MRSA or VRE on admission if they meet criteria or if they come into contact with another patient who has it.
MRSA swab is taken from the nose, and VRE swab is taken from the rectum or from a stool sample.
The swab should be labeled with the patient's name and the specific location (e.g. "Nose/Nasal Swab" or "Stool or Rectal swab").

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Description

Learn about the importance of collecting wound specimens for culture and sensitivity, and how to properly obtain a swab to identify the causative organism and determine the appropriate medication.