UTHCPC Procedures - Specimen Collection from a Wound for Culture

Specimen Collection from a Wound for Culture

Introduction

Date of Last Review 9/5/08
SME: Infection Control Manager

This topic provides information about collecting a wound specimen for culture.

When to use

Collect a wound specimen for culture as prescribed by a physician to identify the causative organism of an infection.

Equipment

Use the following equipment to complete this procedure:

One pair of clean gloves

Sterile culture tube

Material to replace dressing

Bacteriology requisition

Red bag

Preparing

Follow these steps to prepare to take the culture:

Step	Action
1	Identify patient according to Patient Identifier P & P.
2	Inform and prepare the patient.
3	Screen-off the area as appropriate. Reason: To maintain the patient's privacy.
4	Arrange the necessary equipment at the bedside.
5	Wash your hands and put on clean gloves.
6	Remove the dressing from the area to be cultured.
7	Place the used dressing in the red biohazard bag.
8	Caution Avoid touching the infected site. Clean around the wound.

Collecting the specimen

Follow these steps to collect the specimen:

Step	Action
1	Remove the cap from the sterile tube.
2	Remove the sterile swab without touching the side of the tube.
3	Saturate the swab with material from the depths of the wound using the aseptic technique.
4	Insert the swab into the sterile culture tube. Do not: Break-off the swab stick
5	Cap the tube.

Completing the task

Follow these steps to complete the task:

Step	Action
1	Remove your gloves and place them in the red bag.
2	Apply specimen label to the culture tube.
3	Apply sterile dressing over wound.
4	Send specimen to the laboratory.
5	Document the procedure in the patient's chart.

Related standards

The Joint Commission : Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of Infection

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