Aspirate Culture, Aerobic and Anaerobic

Synonyms

• AEROBE
• ANAEROBE
• ASPIRATE CULTURE/GRAM STAIN
• C ASP
• CX WOUND ASPIRATE
• DEEP WOUND
• DIABETIC FOOT
• DIABETIC ULCER
• LAB11760
• OR CULTURE
• PENETRATING WOUND
• PERIOPERATIVE
• STERILE
• SURGICAL

Cerner Name

Aspirate Culture/Gram Stain

Clinical Info

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 spread through the vascular system (hematogenous). Chronic wound infections such as decubiti, foot or leg ulcers are normally due to complications related to impaired vascular flow or metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus). Aspirates obtained through intact skin by needle aspiration are the best samples for culture. The primary agents of skin and tissue infections are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, members of the Enterobacterales, beta-hemolytic streptococci and anaerobes.
Notes:
• Gram Stain is automatically included when C ASP is ordered.
• Specimens should be collected prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

Specimen Sources

Abdomen/Peritoneum Abscess Adenoids Adrenal, Left Adrenal, Right Amniotic Sac Anus Aortic Valve Appendix Arm, Left Arm, Right Axilla, Left Axilla, Right Back, Lower Back, Upper Bile Duct Brain Breast, Left Breast, Right Buttock, Left Buttock, Right Cheek, Left Cheek, Right Chest Chin Colon Decubitus ulcers Duodenum Extranodal Lymphoid Fallopian Tube, Left Fallopian Tube, Right Finger, Left Finger, Right Foot, Left Foot, Right Forehead Gallbladder Gastric Groin Hand, Left Hand, Right Ileum Jaw, Left Jaw, Right Jejunum Kidney, Left Kidney, Right Labia Larynx Leg, Left Leg, Right Lip, Lower Lip, Upper Liver Lung, Left Lung, Left Lower Lobe Lung, Left Upper Lobe Lung, Right Lung, Right Lower Lobe Lung, Right Middle Lobe Lung, Right Upper Lobe Lymph Node Mediastinum Meninges/Dura Misc Muscle Neck Nipple, Left Nipple, Right Ovarian Cyst Ovary Ovary, Left Ovary, Right Pancreas Pancreatic Duct Paratubal Cyst Pelvic Pelvis Penis Pericardium Prostate Rectum Retroperitoneum Salivary Gland, Left Salivary Gland, Right Scalp Scrotum Soft Tissue Spleen Stomach Testicle Testis, Left Testis, Right Thyroid Thyroid, Isthmus Thyroid, Left Thyroid, Right Thyroid, Total Toe, Left Toe, Right Tongue Trachea Uterus Vagina Vas Deferens, Left Vas Deferens, Right Vascular Vertebra Vulva Show more...

Specimen Types

Aspirate

Specimen Volume

Aseptically aspirated fluid- Purulent material (pus), or other material properly obtained from an abscess, biopsy, aspirate, drainage, exudate, lesion, or wound.

Container

E-swab or screw-capped sterile containers are acceptable for culture. Do not submit syringes with needles attached. Minimum volume: 0.5mL

Collection Instructions

• Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
• Collect specimen by first removing surface exudate by wiping with 70% alcohol. Aspirate, if possible, with a needle and syringe.
• Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.
Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Transport Instructions

Maintain specimen at room temperature.

Specimen Stability

Transport to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Methodology

Bacterial culture and Gram Stain
Routine isolation, identification procedures, and antibiotic susceptibility testing will be performed when appropriate.

Days Performed

Monday through Sunday

Performing Laboratories

Northwell Health Laboratories
If culture is positive, additional charge(s)/CPT code(s) may apply for identification
and/or antibiotic susceptibilities performed when appropriate.

CPT

87070 - culture /
87205 - Gram stain

PDM

6201336

Results

Result Interpretation

Forms