What it means
A sample is collected from a wound, usually with a swab, and sent to the lab, where any organisms are grown, identified and tested against antibiotics (sensitivity). Results take 24 to 72 hours. The sample should come from healthy-looking tissue in the wound bed, not from old drainage or dead tissue, which can give a misleading result.
For the nurse
Collect it before the first antibiotic dose when possible. Clean the wound with sterile saline first, then press the swab on clean tissue and rotate it over about 1 cm² (the Levine technique). Label it with the site and send it promptly.
At a glance
| Also written | wound cultures |
|---|
Related terms
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a staph bacterium that many common antibiotics cannot kill.
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
I&D
Incision and drainage: cutting open an abscess or collection so pus or fluid can drain out.