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Test ID: Wound Culture
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Wound Culture
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Culture of wound by conventional culture technique for identification of pathogens causing wound infection
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Useful For
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Bacteriological investigation of specimens from skin and soft tissues
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Method name and description
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Conventional culture technique
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Clinical information
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Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissues are caused by a wide range of organisms. Organisms isolated from a clinically infected wound may be clinically significant, but this decision needs to be made in conjunction with clinical details. Examination of biopsies / tissues might be more effective for diagnosis than swabs.
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Aliases
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- Wound Culture
- Culture Wound
- C Wound
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Specimen type / Specimen volume / Specimen container
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Specimen type
Swabs from the following sites:
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Bed sore
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Episiotomy
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Pustule
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Bite
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Excision site
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Amputation stump
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Blister
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Exit site
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Stye
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Boil
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Exudate
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Hematoma
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Burn
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Incision
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Suture
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Catheter site
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Laceration
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Ulcer
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Cellulitis
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Lesion
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Wound
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Decubitus ulcer
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PEG site
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Drainage
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Post operative
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Specimen container
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Collection instructions / Special Precautions / Timing of collection
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Collection instructions
- Clean the opening of the wound surface mechanically, without using a germicidal agent, to remove as much of the superficial flora as possible.
- The deepest part of the wound should be sampled, avoiding the superficial microflora.
NOTES
- Do not submit cultures of superficial lesions for anaerobic culture.
Special Precautions
Avoid contamination with surrounding flora
Timing of collection
- Collect specimens before antimicrobial therapy where possible
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Relevant clinical information to be provided
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- Patient clinical condition
- Antimicrobial therapy
- Collection site
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Storage and transport instructions
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- <2 hrs. at room temperature
- > 2 hours store at room temperature and transport to the laboratory within 24 hrs of collection
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Specimen Rejection Criteria
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- Duplicate specimens received within 72 hours.
- Dry swab
- Unlabeled/mislabeled swab
- No relevant clinical details provided with the request. (Please note that where applicable, the relevant clinical details should reflect those on the patient’s electronic record at the time the order was placed).
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Biological reference intervals and clinical decision values
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Negative report
No growth
Normal skin flora
Normal skin flora including growth of coliforms
Mixed growth of coliforms
Positive report
- All significant isolates are identified and susceptibility testing is performed.
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Factors affecting test performance and result interpretation
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- Delay in transport
- Improper collection
- Improper storage
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Turnaround time / Days and times test performed / Specimen retention time
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Turnaround time
- Microscopy: 24 hrs
- Culture: 48-96 hrs
Days and times test performed
- Sunday to Friday 7am-3pm at HGH microbiology laboratory; 24/7 at AAH, AWH and TCH microbiology laboratories
Specimen retention time
- 48 hrs. after final report
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