A wide variety of microorganisms that reside on the skin and mucous membranes of the body, as well as those found in the environment can cause skin and soft tissue infection. The organisms enter the body through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes, through wounds made by trauma or bites (exogenous) or a complication of surgery or foreign body implants (endogenous) or they can be spread through the vascular system (hematogenous). Specimens should be collected prior to initial therapy and only from wounds that are clinically infected or deteriorating or fail to heal over a long period.
Aspirate 1. Remove surface exudate by wiping surface of lesion with 70% alcohol. 2. Aspirate deep into lesion using a sterile needle and syringe. 3. Place aspirate in a screw-capped, sterile container. If arriving in a syringe, needle must be removed prior to transportation. 4. Label container/syringe with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen. 5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Swab 1. Remove surface exudate by wiping surface of lesion with 70% alcohol. 2. Swab deep into lesion. 3. Place swab in anaerobe transport media. 4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen. 5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Specimen Volume
Transport Instructions
Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.
Specimen Stability
Up to 48 hours at ambient temperature.
Methodology
Microbiology Culture, Includes anaerobes Includes Gram stain.
