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

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