Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic, Wound Swab – Identification & Sensitivity on Vitek

Test Overview
Culture & Sensitivity (C&S), Aerobic, Wound Swab is a microbiology test used to detect and identify bacteria causing infection in a wound and determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective against the identified organism.

Method

• Wound swab is cultured under aerobic conditions.
• Bacterial isolates are identified using the VITEK automated identification system.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is performed to determine the organism’s sensitivity or resistance to relevant antibiotics.

Why is this test done?
It may be recommended for wounds showing signs of infection such as:

• Pus or abnormal discharge
• Redness, swelling or warmth
• Persistent or worsening wound
• Delayed healing
• Suspected bacterial infection

What does the report provide?
The report may include:

• Organism(s) identified
• Antibiotics tested
• Susceptibility results such as Sensitive, Intermediate or Resistant, as applicable
• Relevant microbiology findings

Sample Required
Wound swab collected from the infected or clinically relevant wound site.

Clinical Importance
The results help the treating doctor select an appropriate antibiotic based on the identified organism and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Treatment decisions should always be made by a qualified healthcare professional.

Note: Prior antibiotic use, sample collection quality and timing can influence culture results