YOU MAY OBTAIN A CULTURE SPECIMEN from an infected wound to identify the causative organism and help determine the most effective therapy. Use appropriate technique, usually the Z-stroke swab culturing technique shown here.
DO
* Review the health care provider's order for obtaining the wound culture.
* Gather supplies to clean the wound, obtain the specimen, and redress the wound.
* Provide privacy. Confirm the patient's identity and explain the procedure.
* Position and drape the patient.
* Perform hand hygiene and put on clean gloves. Remove the dressing, dispose of the gloves and dressing, and perform hand hygiene.
* Assess the wound and surrounding tissue.
* Arrange supplies on a sterile field. Put on clean gloves and thoroughly rinse the wound with sterile saline solution. Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and put on clean gloves.
[black right pointing small triangle]To collect the specimen, swab the wound by gently rotating a sterile calcium alginate or rayon swab between your fingers. Swab the wound from margin to margin in a 10-point zigzag fashion. Use enough pressure to express fluid from within the wound tissue.
* Place the swab in the culture medium, label it according to your facility's policies and procedures, and send it to the lab as soon as possible.
* Redress the wound as ordered. Take off gloves and perform hand hygiene.
* Document the procedure, your assessment findings, and the patient's response.
DON'T
* Don't take a specimen from exudate or eschar.
* Don't use a cotton-tipped swab.
* Don't let the sterile swab touch your fingers or other objects.
RESOURCES