Obtaining a Wound Culture by Swab

Obtaining a Wound Culture by Swab

Equipment
■ 3 pairs of clean procedure gloves.
■ Culturette tube.
■ Sterile 4 in. x 4 in. gauze pad in an impermeable tray or separate 4 x 4 packs and an impermeable barrier.
■ Sterile 0.9% (normal) saline solution for irrigation, warmed to body temperature.
■ 35-mL syringe.
■ 19-gauge angiocatheter.
■ Gown and face shield.
■ Emesis basin.
■ Water-resistant disposable drapes.

Assessment
■ If the wound is covered when you begin, you will make these assessments when you remove the soiled dressing and after cleansing the wound:
■ Assess for pain.
■ Determine whether the wound requires sterile, modified sterile, or clean technique.
■ Assess:
• Amount and type of tissue present in the wound bed.
• Type and amount of exudate.
• Wound for odor.
• Tissue surrounding the wound edge.

Post-Procedure Reassessment
■ Assess patient’s pain level and medicate according to prescriptions.
■ Monitor lab reports for results of the swab culture.

Key Points
■ Be Smart! Position the patient for easy access to the wound and in a manner that will allow the irrigation solution to flow freely from the wound with the assistance of gravity.
■ Be Safe! Don protective equipment: gown, face shield, and clean procedure gloves.
■ Remove the soiled dressing and dispose of gloves and dressing.
■ Don clean gloves, and fill a 35-mL syringe with attached 19-gauge angiocatheter with 0.9% (normal) saline solution.
■ Holding the angiocatheter tip 2 cm (3/4 to 1 in.) from the wound bed, gently irrigate the wound (superior to inferior).
■ Press the culture swab against an area of red granulating tissue, and rotate.
■ Reinsert the swab into the culturette tube, label the tube, and transport it to the lab.

Documentation
■ Chart:
■ Appearance and location of the wound and surrounding tissue, noting the type, consistency, and amount of exudate, and odor.
■ Patient’s pain level before the culture. (If the patient was medicated for pain, document the drug and dose used, time given, and patient response.)
■ Method by which the wound was cleansed before the culture.
■ Description of the area where the culture was obtained.
■ Dressing reapplied to wound, if applicable.
■ Education provided to the patient.

Collecting a wound culture by swab