Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria Other samples( Vitek 2 Compact)

Bacterial/ Viral

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Identifies bacteria & antibiotic susceptibility.

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Culture & Sensitivity Aerobic bacteria Other samples (Vitek 2 Compact)

Why is it done?
- Identifies aerobic bacteria present in clinical specimens (wound cultures, body fluid aspirates, tissue samples, cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluid, or other non-routine sample sources)
- Determines antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to guide targeted antibiotic therapy
- Confirms bacterial infection in suspected infection cases
- Monitors effectiveness of antibiotic treatment in ongoing infections
- Ordered when patients present with signs of systemic infection, localized wound infections, fever of unknown origin, or surgical site infections
- Typically performed as part of initial diagnostic workup in hospitalized patients or those with clinical signs of infection
Normal Range
- Normal Result: No growth (negative culture) - indicates absence of aerobic bacterial infection in the specimen
- Interpretation: Normal flora contamination may be noted as non-pathogenic organisms when appropriate for specimen type
- Abnormal Result: Positive culture with identified bacterial organism - indicates bacterial infection
- Sensitivity Results: Reported as Susceptible (S), Intermediate (I), or Resistant (R) for various antimicrobial agents
- Units: Colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) or semiquantitative results (rare, few, moderate, many)
- Clinical Significance: Negative culture typically excludes bacterial infection; positive culture with organism identification confirms infection and guides antibiotic selection
Interpretation
- No Growth - Negative Culture
  - Indicates no aerobic bacterial infection in the specimen
  - May represent sterile specimen, viral infection, fungal infection, or anaerobic infection
  - Consider clinical context and possibility of anaerobic or other pathogens if clinical suspicion remains high
- Positive Culture - Organism Identified
  - Confirms bacterial infection with identification of specific pathogenic organism(s)
  - Multiple organisms may indicate mixed infection or contamination - clinical correlation necessary
  - Organism identification performed using Vitek 2 Compact automated system with biochemical testing
- Susceptibility Interpretation
  - Susceptible (S): Organism is likely to be inhibited by the antibiotic at standard therapeutic doses - preferred agent for treatment
  - Intermediate (I): Organism may be inhibited by the antibiotic at higher therapeutic doses or tissue concentrations - use with caution or consider alternative
  - Resistant (R): Organism is resistant to the antibiotic and will not respond to therapy - avoid this agent and select alternative
- Factors Affecting Results
  - Specimen quality and type - improper collection, delayed transport, or contamination affects accuracy
  - Prior antibiotic therapy may reduce organism recovery or alter susceptibility patterns
  - Specimen transport conditions and timing - organisms may die or overgrow with inappropriate handling
  - Presence of disinfectants or preservatives may inhibit organism growth
- Clinical Significance of Patterns
  - Single organism: Usually represents true infection - organism identification and sensitivities guide therapy
  - Multiple organisms: May indicate mixed infection, contamination, or inadequate specimen collection - clinical correlation essential
  - Pan-resistant organism: Indicates multidrug-resistant pathogen requiring careful antibiotic selection and possible infectious disease consultation
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems Involved
  - Respiratory system - pneumonia, bronchitis, lung abscesses
  - Cardiovascular system - endocarditis, septicemia, bacteremia
  - Central nervous system - meningitis, ventriculitis, brain abscess
  - Genitourinary system - urinary tract infections, prostatitis, pyelonephritis
  - Gastrointestinal tract - peritonitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis
  - Integumentary system - cellulitis, abscess, wound infections
  - Musculoskeletal system - osteomyelitis, arthritis, bone infections
- Common Organisms Detected
  - Gram-positive: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, Enterococcus, Bacillus species
  - Gram-negative: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter
  - Other: Corynebacterium, Listeria, Serratia, Proteus
- Associated Medical Conditions
  - Sepsis and septic shock - systemic response to severe infection
  - Nosocomial infections - healthcare-associated infections
  - Immunocompromised states - increased susceptibility to infection
  - Post-surgical infections - complications following surgical procedures
  - Device-related infections - prosthetics, catheters, implants
  - Antibiotic-resistant infections - multidrug-resistant organisms
- Potential Complications Associated with Abnormal Results
  - Delayed initiation of appropriate therapy increases mortality risk
  - Inadequate antibiotic coverage - inappropriate antimicrobial selection
  - Chronicity and recurrence - persistent infection from inadequate source control
  - Organ dysfunction - multi-organ failure in severe infections
  - Selection of resistant organisms - from inappropriate antibiotic use
Follow-up Tests
- Recommended Follow-up Based on Results
  - Repeat culture - 48-72 hours after initiation of appropriate therapy to confirm organism clearance
  - Blood culture - if bacteremia suspected despite other site culture
  - Imaging studies - CT/MRI to evaluate for complications or loculated infection
  - Anaerobic culture - if anaerobic infection suspected based on specimen site or clinical presentation
- Complementary Diagnostic Tests
  - Gram stain - immediate morphological identification pending culture results
  - Complete blood count (CBC) - assess for leukocytosis or systemic response
  - Procalcitonin - marker of bacterial infection severity
  - C-reactive protein (CRP) - inflammatory marker of infection response
  - Blood cultures - if septicemia suspected alongside localized infection
  - Metabolic panel - assess renal function, electrolytes for sepsis complications
- Monitoring and Clinical Follow-up
  - Daily clinical assessment - vital signs, wound appearance, systemic signs during active infection treatment
  - Repeated laboratory studies - CBC, metabolic panel every 24-48 hours in acute infections
  - Treatment response evaluation - clinical improvement, fever resolution within 48-72 hours
  - Duration of therapy - typically 7-21 days depending on infection type and severity
  - Post-treatment follow-up - clinical examination to assess for recurrence or complications
- Specialized Tests for Resistant Organisms
  - Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) testing - for resistant gram-negative bacteria
  - Carbapenem resistance testing - for highly resistant gram-negative organisms
  - Methicillin resistance testing - for Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) determination
  - Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) detection - for highly resistant gram-positive organisms
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Requirement: No
- Culture and sensitivity testing does not require fasting as it involves collection of clinical specimens (wound drainage, body fluids, tissue) rather than blood samples
- Specimen Collection Requirements
  - Collect specimen using sterile technique to prevent contamination
  - Use appropriate sterile containers provided by the laboratory
  - Collect adequate quantity - typically 1-2 mL or visible amount of specimen material
  - Do not use swabs with wooden applicators or cotton tips - use sterile swabs specifically for culture
  - Avoid specimens contaminated with disinfectants, antiseptics, or preservatives
- Transport and Handling
  - Transport to laboratory immediately or within 2 hours of collection
  - Keep specimen at room temperature - do not refrigerate unless specific instruction from laboratory
  - Properly label specimen with patient name, date, time of collection, and specimen type
  - Use appropriate transport media if significant delay anticipated
- Special Instructions
  - For wound cultures - clean surrounding skin with sterile gauze, then culture purulent drainage or deep tissue
  - For body fluid cultures - use sterile technique during aspiration, place in sterile container
  - For tissue cultures - use sterile scalpel or instruments to obtain tissue sample
  - No medications need to be held for specimen collection
  - Inform laboratory if patient is on antibiotics - may affect culture results interpretation

How our test process works!