A bacteria culture test is a medical examination that confirms whether an individual has a bacterial infection. This test is also beneficial in determining the type of bacteria involved which helps make appropriate decisions for treatment. During this exam, a sample of blood, stool, urine, skin, mucus, or spinal fluid is taken by a healthcare professional.
Understanding Bacteria
Bacteria are simple single-cell organisms that reside in and around us since they are among the oldest forms of existence on Earth.
The majority of bacteria are harmless or even beneficial; nonetheless, some can lead to various illnesses and associated symptoms. In reality, most infectious diseases result from bacterial infections. Thus a bacteria culture test confirms whether an individual has such an infection and what type it is to determine the best treatment options.
When is the Bacteria Culture Test Performed?
This exam is commonly practiced when someone displays indications of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, food poisoning, and many more ailments such as bronchitis, kidney infections, or wound infections in cuts or burns.
How is it performed?
To perform this examination procedure healthcare providers will take samples of various substances from the body depending on one’s symptoms and suspected infection types- blood samples for bacteremia or endocarditis; urine samples for urinary tract infections (UTI) spinal swabs for meningitis; stool samples for enteric coliforms; sputum samples for bacterial pneumonia.
The obtained sample specimen will then be sent to the laboratory where experts use distinctive methods to inspire microorganisms in the sample to cultivate and duplicate under controlled environments that resemble favored growing conditions within your body system environment specific to each type of microorganism, this can indicate microbial presence at different stages with unique characteristics.
Researchers use various techniques such as streaking plates culture methods & microbiological stains like Gram Stain Differential Stains Acid Fast Staining spore staining capsule staining respectively accordingly specimens its growth & specific peculiarities followed by microscopic analysis identifies it completely & whether further antimicrobial analysis is necessary.
Types of Bacterial Culture Tests
Bacteria can be sampled from various areas of your body or substances inside your body, depending on the type of infection suspected. The different types are:
• Blood culture: A blood culture checks for systemic infection throughout your entire body, such as sepsis. A healthcare provider collects the blood sample from a vein, usually in your arm. Blood cultures are rarely done on outpatients and should be repeated at regular intervals.
• Cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid culture: A CSF culture tests a sample of the fluid that protects the spine. A healthcare provider inserts a needle into a space between two vertebrae in your spine to get the sample. This procedure is called a spinal tap (lumbar puncture).
• Stool culture: A stool culture tests poop for an infection in your digestive tract. A healthcare provider will ask you to poop into a sterile cup that is then sealed and sent to a lab.
• Throat culture: A throat culture tests for infection in your throat like strep throat. A healthcare provider swabs the back of your throat for a sample of cells.
• Sputum culture: If your provider suspects an infection deep in your lungs, they may run tests on your sputum. Sputum is a thick mucus that comes from deep in your lungs. It’s also called phlegm. A healthcare provider will ask you to cough up sputum.
• Urine culture: A urine culture tests pee to help diagnose infection in the urinary tract, including the kidneys. A healthcare provider will ask you to clean your genitals and then pee directly into a small, sterile cup. The cup is then sealed and sent to the lab. In the hospital, a urine sample may be collected through a catheter. A catheter is a thin tube inserted into the urethra (the tube where urine exits the body).
• Wound culture: If you have a cut or burn that might be infected, you may need a wound culture, also called a skin culture. A healthcare provider will use a syringe to take a sample of fluid or pus from the wound, or a piece of tissue is sent to the lab.
How do I prepare for a bacterial culture test?
Most bacteria culture tests don’t require any preparation. But ask your healthcare provider whether there are any special instructions.
What are the risks of taking the test?
Bacteria culture tests have a very low risk of any complications. Most have no known risks. Blood and CSF cultures involve a small chance of infection or bleeding because those tests involve a needle puncture in the skin. A CSF culture is usually done on someone who is critically ill or likely to become critically ill in the near future.
Results
After the sample goes to the lab, lab staff use specific techniques to make the cells multiply and grow. This gives experts enough bacterial cells to examine under a microscope or test for specific chemical reactions, including susceptibility to various antibiotics. The process takes one to five days, depending on the type of bacteria.
If the sample contains enough bacteria, the lab confirms an infection. The lab will tell the healthcare provider what type(s) of bacteria were found.
The lab also might run antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). AST is a lab test that identifies which treatment regimen would be most effective against the type of infection you have.
Next Steps
After getting these results your healthcare provider may determine that a different antibiotic would work better than one initially prescribed because certain antibiotics are more effective against specific bacteria.
If your results show you don’t have a bacterial infection, you should not take antibiotic medicines. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them won’t help you feel better and may lead to a serious problem known as antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance allows harmful bacteria to change in a way that makes antibiotics less effective or not effective at all. This can be dangerous to you and your community because antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread to others.