Pus Swab Culture Test

Synonyms

pus culture, pus swab culture test, pus swab test, pus culture and sensitivity test,

Purpose

The pus swab culture is critical for detecting bacterial infections in wounds, abscesses, and other places where pus forms.

This culture reveals the precise bacteria causing the infection, allowing clinicians to choose appropriate antibiotics for therapy. It is crucial for skin infections, post-surgical wound infections, and cellulitis.

In severe illnesses, germs can enter the circulation and cause bacteremia or sepsis. A blood culture and a pus swab culture can help identify whether the illness has spread systemically.

Skin infections can have both bacterial and fungal components. A fungal culture can be performed in addition to the pus swab culture to detect suspected fungal involvement, particularly in immunocompromised patients or chronic, non-healing wounds.

Patient Preparation

No special preparations are required.

Samples for a Pus Swab Culture Test

Collect 3 ml of pus in a sterile screw cap, with a minimum volume of 1 ml. Sample the deepest part of the wound while avoiding the superficial microflora. Ensure the swabs are well soaked in pus and refrigerate the sample in a sterile transport medium such as Amies.

Reference Range

No growth obtained/ no pathogens isolated

Results Turnaround

4 days after receipt of samples.

Diseases / Diagnostic Indicators

The Pus Swab Culture test detects bacterial and fungal infections in wounds, abscesses, and other pus-filled areas. A sample is cultured from the afflicted area to determine the germs causing the infection.

This test is essential for identifying infections like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species, which are frequent in wound infections and abscesses.

During sensitivity testing, continued bacterial growth after antibiotic treatment may suggest antibiotic resistance, which occurs when germs do not respond to certain medications.

This information is critical, particularly for unresponsive illnesses, because it helps clinicians select successful treatments depending on the susceptibility of the discovered bacteria.

Early detection of drug-resistant bacteria helps to prevent long-term infections and consequences, enabling quick and targeted treatment. For further information on the usage and relevance of pus swab cultures, see this study on pus swab culture.