Search for
Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria Throat Swab(Vitek 2 Compact)
Bacterial/ Viral
Report in 72Hrs
At Home
No Fasting Required
Details
Identifies bacteria & antibiotic susceptibility.
₹1,036₹1,480
30% OFF
Culture & Sensitivity Aerobic Bacteria Throat Swab (Vitek 2 Compact)
- Why is it done?
- Identifies and isolates aerobic bacterial pathogens from the throat to determine the causative organism of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or other throat infections
- Determines antibiotic susceptibility and resistance patterns using the Vitek 2 Compact automated system to guide targeted antimicrobial therapy
- Performed when patients present with symptoms of acute pharyngitis including sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, or tonsillar exudate
- Indicated for patients with recurrent throat infections or those who have failed initial antibiotic therapy
- Used for surveillance of antibiotic resistance patterns in respiratory pathogens within healthcare settings
- Typically collected during initial evaluation of bacterial pharyngitis; results available within 24-48 hours after specimen receipt
- Normal Range
- Normal Result: No growth or normal flora only (commensal organisms such as alpha-hemolytic streptococci, Corynebacterium species, Neisseria species, or gram-positive cocci)
- Abnormal Result: Presence of pathogenic aerobic bacteria (Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or other beta-hemolytic streptococci)
- Quantification: Results typically reported as semiquantitative (rare, few, moderate, or heavy growth) or quantitative (colony-forming units per plate)
- Sensitivity Interpretation: Susceptible (S), Intermediate (I), or Resistant (R) for each antibiotic tested; S indicates appropriate therapeutic response expected
- Units: Colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) or descriptive terms; minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) expressed in micrograms per milliliter (μg/mL)
- Interpretation
- No Growth or Normal Flora: Suggests throat infection is likely viral in origin, non-infectious, or the bacterial pathogen was not recovered; antibiotic therapy may not be indicated
- Group A Streptococcus (GAS) Isolated: Most common pathogenic finding; indicates acute bacterial pharyngitis requiring antibiotic treatment; susceptibility results guide therapy selection (typically penicillin or cephalosporin)
- Staphylococcus aureus Isolated: Indicates potential skin flora contamination or invasive infection; MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) status must be determined; if resistant, alternative antibiotics (vancomycin, linezolid, or clindamycin) may be needed
- Haemophilus influenzae Isolated: Indicates gram-negative pathogenic organism causing pharyngitis; beta-lactamase production determines resistance to ampicillin; fluoroquinolones or second-generation cephalosporins typically prescribed
- Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated: Serious pathogen associated with invasive disease; penicillin susceptibility must be confirmed as resistance is common; macrolides or fluoroquinolones used if resistant
- Susceptible (S) Result: Organism inhibited by therapeutic concentrations of the antibiotic; standard dosing expected to be effective
- Intermediate (I) Result: Organism has reduced susceptibility; standard dosing may be inadequate; higher doses or alternative agents recommended
- Resistant (R) Result: Organism not inhibited by therapeutic concentrations; antibiotic will not be effective; alternative agent must be selected based on other susceptibilities
- Factors Affecting Results: Prior antibiotic therapy may suppress growth or alter susceptibility patterns; inadequate specimen quality may yield false negatives; contamination with oral flora may complicate interpretation; specimen collection timing and storage affect viability of organisms
- Vitek 2 Compact System: Automated identification system providing rapid and accurate identification of bacterial species and comprehensive antibiotic susceptibility testing; results more reliable and standardized than manual methods
- Associated Organs
- Primary Organ System: Upper respiratory tract including pharynx, tonsils, larynx, and surrounding lymphoid tissue
- Associated Conditions: Acute bacterial pharyngitis (GAS pharyngitis), tonsillitis, suppurative lymphadenitis, peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, epiglottitis, and diphtheria (rare)
- Complications from Untreated Infection: Post-streptococcal sequelae (acute rheumatic fever with carditis, arthritis, chorea, and erythema marginatum), post-infectious glomerulonephritis, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, and disseminated invasive disease
- Secondary Involvement: Lymph nodes, heart (myocarditis, endocarditis), kidneys (glomerulonephritis), and central nervous system (meningitis in severe cases); bacteremia may lead to systemic infection
- Immune Response Complications: GAS contains epitopes cross-reactive with cardiac myosin and tropomyosin, leading to post-streptococcal autoimmune sequelae affecting heart valves and joints
- Risk of Transmission: Confirmed bacterial pharyngitis patients should be isolated and treated to reduce transmission to close contacts; proper diagnosis via culture guides appropriate infection control measures
- Follow-up Tests
- Repeat Culture: Indicated if symptoms persist after 48-72 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy to assess treatment failure or identify resistant organisms requiring therapy modification
- Serological Testing: Anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers and anti-DNase B antibodies may be recommended if rheumatic fever or post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is suspected; performed 1-2 weeks after infection onset
- Urinalysis: Recommended 2-3 weeks post-infection if GAS-associated infection to screen for post-infectious glomerulonephritis; look for hematuria and proteinuria
- Echocardiography: Considered if clinical signs or symptoms suggest post-streptococcal cardiac involvement (murmur, signs of heart failure) or in follow-up of acute rheumatic fever
- Rapid Strep Test: May be used initially for presumptive diagnosis; culture remains gold standard for confirmation and sensitivity testing
- Blood Culture: Indicated if invasive disease is suspected (bacteremia, endocarditis, meningitis) or if patient appears systemically ill
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): May be ordered to assess severity of infection and leukocytosis; helpful in differentiating bacterial from viral infection clinically
- Molecular Testing (PCR): May be used for rapid detection of specific pathogens (GAS, MRSA) in high-risk settings; complements culture-based identification
- Clinical Follow-up Timing: Patients should be reassessed 48-72 hours after treatment initiation; failure to improve warrants culture repeat and potential therapy modification; long-term follow-up for GAS infections to screen for sequelae
- Fasting Required?
- Fasting: No
- Patient Preparation - Nothing to Eat or Drink Restriction: Not required; normal eating and drinking permitted before specimen collection
- Throat Preparation: Avoid eating, drinking, or gargling for 30 minutes prior to collection if possible to prevent sample dilution; do not use mouthwash or throat lozenges immediately before specimen collection
- Medications - Special Considerations: Do not avoid or discontinue prescribed antibiotics; if possible, collect culture specimen before initiating antibiotic therapy for optimal recovery of pathogens; if already on antibiotics, note on requisition form as culture may be negative despite infection
- Specimen Collection Instructions: Use sterile, cotton-tipped or flocked swab to obtain specimen from posterior pharynx, tonsils, and tonsillar pillars with exudate if present; avoid touching lips or anterior oral structures to minimize contamination with normal flora
- Specimen Transport: Place swab in appropriate transport medium immediately after collection; deliver to laboratory promptly (preferably within 2 hours at room temperature) to maintain organism viability; refrigeration may be needed if transport is delayed
- Specimen Type: Throat swab only; do not submit saliva or gargle specimens as they yield high rate of contamination and poor culture quality
How our test process works!
