Specimen Collection for Microbiology Studies PDF

Specimen Collection for Microbiological Studies Dr. Basma Samir (MD) Body Fluids, Sterile (Other than urine and cerebrospinal fluid) Prepare the skin as for blood cultures. Collect the fluid using a sterile needle and a syringe. For aerobic and anaerobic organisms, submit 10 ml in a st...

Specimen Collection for Microbiological Studies Dr. Basma Samir (MD) Body Fluids, Sterile (Other than urine and cerebrospinal fluid) Prepare the skin as for blood cultures. Collect the fluid using a sterile needle and a syringe. For aerobic and anaerobic organisms, submit 10 ml in a sterile container. If tuberculosis or fungal infections are suspected, collect a minimum of 10ml of fluid into a sterile container. Transport immediately. Do not send Sterile Body Fluids on swabs. Bronchial Brush/Wash/Lavage This technique should be performed by an experienced Chest Physician. Transport in a sterile container immediately at ambient temperature. Throat Use a cotton swab. Use a tongue depressor and a good light source to ensure good visualization. Reach behind the uvula Swab: both tonsillar fauces, and the posterior pharynx, and any ulceration, exudate, lesion, or area of inflammation. Place the swab into the appropriate transport media and transport at ambient temperature. Ear External ear cultures are processed as superficial wounds. Middle ear fluid will be processed as a miscellaneous body fluid. If the diagnosis is otitis media, the specimen of choice is middle ear fluid collected by tympanocentesis (by an experienced physician). Please indicate specific ear source. Eye Cleanse the skin around the eye with a mild antiseptic. Purulent conjunctivitis: Collect purulent material with a regular cotton swab. Place the swab into appropriate transport media and transport at ambient temperature. Corneal infections Obtain Culture media from microbiology laboratory. Swab the conjunctiva as described above. Collect multiple corneal scrapings and inoculate directly onto bacterial agar media (chocolate agar, sheep blood agar, and BHI broth) and/or Saboroud’s dextrose agar media. Transport at ambient temperature Intraocular fluid Collect fluid by surgical needle aspiration (Experienced Eye Surgeon). Transport cultures at ambient temperature. MYCOLOGY specimens (Fungal only) A.) Hair Scrap the scalp with a blunt scalpel. Place specimen in a dry sterile container. Transport at ambient temperature. The following specimens are also acceptable: Hair stubs Contents of plugged follicles Skin scales Hair plucked from the scalp with forceps MYCOLOGY Cutaneous (Fungal only) B.) Nails Cleanse the nail with 70-95% ALC. Remove the outermost layer by scraping with a scalpel. Place specimen in a dry, sterile container. Transport at ambient temperature. The following specimens are also acceptable: Clippings from any discolored or brittle parts of nail Deeper scrapings and debris under the edges of the nail MYCOLOGY Cutaneous (Fungal only) C.) Skin Cleanse the skin with 70-95% ALC. Collect epidermal scales with a scalpel, at the active border of the lesion. Place specimen in a dry sterile container. Do not tape specimen to slide. Transport at ambient temperature. THANK YOU