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Abcess Wound cuture

Collection and Handling

Microbiology Specimen Collection Procedure

Wound and Tissue Culture, Specimens

Last Updated: 03/15/2012

 

Wound/Tissue Type

Transport device

Comments

Abscess

Anaerobic transport container: A.C.T. II Dual, eswab or red top tube
  • Samples from the base of the lesion or of the abscess wall are most productive
  • sampling of surface area can introduce colonizing bacteria not involved in the infectious process

open wound

 

Collection: Remove surface exudate by wiping with 70% alcohol, aspirate if possible, or pass swab deep into the lesion and firmly sample the lesion's advancing edge.  Aseptically transfer all material to appropriate transport device.

closed wound

Collection: Remove surface exudate by wiping with 70% alcohol, aspirate abscess wall material with needle and syringe. Aseptically transfer all material to appropriate transport device.

 

General Considerations

  1. An order for wound culture normally includes:
    1. An Aerobic Culture
    2. A Gram Stain if adequate specimen is submitted (2 swabs, eswabs or specimen in sterile container)
    3. An Anaerobic Culture if:
      1. a portion of specimen is submitted in an anaerobic transport container: A.C.T. II Dual, eswab or red top tube
      2. the source is appropriate