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Wound culture
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A wound culture is a lab test used to find infection in open wounds or burns. It can tell two things: whether there is a bacterial infection and, if so, which type of bacteria is causing it.
The sample is collected with a swab, a stick with a tip that picks up cells or pus from the wound, and it is sent to the lab to be cultured, meaning it is placed in a medium where bacteria can grow so the lab can see what grows. If the wound is deeper, fluid can be drawn with a syringe, or a biopsy, a small piece of tissue, can be taken. It is planting a seed to see what plant comes up.
And the site the sample comes from matters. When infection is suspected, deep cultures are preferred, because a swab run only along the edge is likely to grow a wide variety of microorganisms.
In brief
A wound culture looks for infection in open wounds or burns. It can tell whether there is a bacterial infection and, if so, which type of bacteria is causing it.
It is planting a seed to see what plant comes up.
A swab is used to collect cells or pus; in deeper wounds, fluid can be drawn with a syringe or a biopsy taken.
When infection is suspected, deep cultures are preferred, because a swab run only along the edge is likely to grow a wide variety of microorganisms.
Sources (2)
- MedlinePlusBacteria Culture Test
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingWound Assessment, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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