Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria, Wound Swab, Conventional Identification & AST

Culture & Sensitivity – Aerobic Bacteria, Wound Swab

Test Name: Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic Bacteria, Wound Swab, Conventional Identification & AST

Purpose:
This test detects and identifies aerobic bacteria that may be causing infection in a wound and determines which antibiotics are likely to be effective against the identified organism.

What does the test detect?

• Aerobic bacterial growth from a wound swab
• Identification of the causative bacterial organism
• Antibiotic susceptibility/resistance pattern through AST (Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing)

When is it recommended?

It may be advised for wounds with:

• Pus or unusual discharge
• Redness, swelling or warmth
• Increasing pain or tenderness
• Delayed or poor healing
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Suspected bacterial wound infection
• Infection that is not responding to treatment

Sample Required

Wound Swab

The sample should ideally be collected from the infected area by a qualified healthcare professional using appropriate sterile technique.

Method

Conventional bacterial culture, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

Why is it important?

The test helps healthcare professionals:

• Identify the bacteria responsible for the infection
• Understand its antibiotic susceptibility pattern
• Support selection of an appropriate antibiotic
• Avoid unnecessary or ineffective antibiotic use

Important: Results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional along with the patient's clinical findings. A positive culture does not always mean that every organism detected is causing infection.