Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic, Wound Swab – Conventional Identification & Automated AST on VITEK
What is this test?
Culture & Sensitivity of a wound swab is a laboratory test used to detect and identify bacteria causing an infection in a wound. The isolated organism is identified using conventional microbiological methods, followed by automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on the VITEK system to determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective.
Why is it done?
- To identify bacteria present in an infected wound
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolated organism
- To help clinicians select appropriate antibiotic therapy
- Useful for persistent, infected, or non-healing wounds
Sample Required:
Wound swab collected from the infected area using appropriate sterile technique.
How is the test performed?
- The wound specimen is inoculated onto appropriate culture media.
- Bacterial growth is assessed after incubation.
- Suspected organisms are identified using conventional microbiological methods.
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The isolated organism is subjected to automated AST using the VITEK system.
- Results are reported as the organism identified along with its antimicrobial susceptibility profile.
What does the report show?
The report generally includes the identified microorganism and its susceptibility to tested antimicrobial agents, helping the treating clinician choose an appropriate antibiotic.
Important:
Antibiotics should be selected and prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional based on the culture report, clinical findings, and patient-specific factors.
