Culture of a skin swab

What is a skin swab culturery?

Physiologically, there are numerous bacteria of many species on the skinr of humans, and they usually do not cause lesions. In somecases, however, they may be responsible for the formation of pathological skinlesions. Then, in order to implement the most effective treatment, it is necessary to assess exactly what type of bacteria is responsible for the occurrence of a particular disease in a patient. A skin culture testry makes such an assessment possible, while also determining which drug a given pathogen is most sensitive to, allowing the most optimal therapeutic substance to be used.

When to perform a skin swab culturery?

This test is ordered in the course of the diagnostic process of dermatological diseasesb, especiallylly when the skin lesions do not respond to the treatment used so far or are worsening. The test is based on taking a prb sample from a skin lesion with a sterile instrument, and then analyzing it in a microbiology laboratory. Some of the diseasesb in the course of which this test may be ordered include, for example, acne, hard-to-heal surgical wounds, diabetic foot lesions or bedsores. Collection of the material is usually painless, it may be associated with temporary discomfort during contact of the tool with the pathologically changed skinr.

Who should perform a skin swab culture testry?

This test is most often ordered by a dermatologist. In somer cases, standard treatment is not effective. This can be caused by a number of factors, but one of the most common is the resistance of the bacteria causing the patient's condition.

Examining the culture of a skin swabry makes it possible to apply effective treatment intime, tailored to the individual case. The time it takes to perform a culture (that is, to grow colonies of bacteria taken from the patient in the laboratory for identification) usually takes several days. Of particular concern should be wounds and other skin disordersrne that do not improve with time, and the skinrne around them becomes swollen, red, more hot, and pathological exudate (pus) is present. You shouldgo to the doctor as soon as possible, as this indicates a bacterial infection present there, whichra untreated can carry serious health complications.

Skin swab culturery- interpretation and results

The result of a skin swab culturery usually includes not only a clearly defined bacterial species in the isolated prb, but also a summary of the antibioticsr to which it is least resistant - that is, whichr use in a given patient will have the most effective results. This summary is called an antibiogram, and is an extremely useful tool in the diagnostic and treatment process of difficult skin lesionsr.

When a doctor prescribes antibioticsw, it is important to strictly follow the doctor's instructions for their use, especially the length and duration of antibiotic therapy. Too early termination of antibiotic therapy can result in a relapse, as small amounts of bacteria, those most resistant to the drug used, may survive in the patient's body as a result. A recurrence of the disease att can be severe and much more difficult to treat.