Anaerobic (Bacterial Culture)

Specimen Collection: Anaerobic (Bacterial Culture)

Policy Tech: Version 4

NOTE: Collected from deep wounds, or abscesses, soft tissue aspirates, bite wounds, or
tissue.

Equipment: ESwab collection kit, betadine, sterile gauze
(NOTE: 1 Eswab from the same site can be used for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures)

Abscess: Clean area with betadine solution, rinse with sterile saline, and dry with sterile
gauze. After incision, remove the swab from the collection kit package. Swab the interior of
abscess cavity and/or any present pus. Break off swab at the red score line into the transport
tube containing 1.0mL liquid media and send to lab.

Labeling: Properly label specimens with at least 2 patient identifiers, such as name, medical
record number, and date of birth

References:
Bowden, V.R., Smith Greenberg, C. (2008). Pediatric Nursing Procedures, 2nd Ed.
Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Isenberg, H.D. (2004). Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Volume 2. Washington,
D.C.: The ASM Press.

ESwab technical insert #0086 , Becton, Dickinson and Company, Sparks, Maryland, 08/2016
Jorgensen, James. Manual of Clinical Microbiology 11th Edition, ASM Press 2015