Seeding tank from the pharynx. Sowing of the discharge of the upper respiratory tract on the microflora, determination of sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs and bacteriophages (Upper Respiratory Culture, Routine. Bacteria Identification. Antibiotic Susceptibility and Bacteriophag

A throat swab is considered a common diagnostic test for inflammation and infections. Thanks to the procedure, it is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease. Also, the material helps to exclude diphtheria and other dangerous pathologies.

Throat swab - what is it

A throat swab is done to identify the dominant microorganisms in the area. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to determine the presence, types and number of microbes located in the investigated area. This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and choose an adequate treatment.

Indications

This study is performed in such situations:

Preventive examination when applying for a job. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, patients, etc.
Examination of pregnant women. This helps prevent the development and activity of bacteria that pose a danger to the baby.
A survey of children who are going to enroll in preschool institutions. This helps prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups.
Diagnostics before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that can aggravate the course of the postoperative period.
Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent further spread of the disease.
Research for accurate determination of the causative agent of pathologies of ENT organs. Also, the procedure helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs.
Revealing diphtheria, scarlet fever, sinusitis, and other pathologies.

Summarizing the information, we can conclude that a smear for the study of flora is required in 2 cases - to determine the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms and to detect the causative agent of a certain disease.

Why do they take a smear for flora, says the doctor:

What tests are passed, what can be determined

To take a throat swab, the specialist asks the person to open their mouth and tilt their head back slightly. Then he gently presses the tongue with a flat instrument. After that, a sterile swab is carried out along the mucous membranes of the tonsils and throat.

The procedure does not cause pain, but it can provoke discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a swab often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms pending studies that help establish their species.

Subsequently, mucus particles are sent for special research. One of the main methods is considered to be a rapid antigenic hemotest. This system responds quickly to certain types of microbial particles.

This study helps to detect category A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The results of this analysis can be obtained within 5-40 minutes. Typically, antigenic tests are highly sensitive.

Sowing involves placing mucus particles from the throat into a special environment that leads to the active reproduction of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms that inhabit the mucous membrane. This allows you to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to. This is especially important if standard therapy fails.

PCR analysis helps to identify the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is done by the DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a throat swab correctly

How to prepare

For the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before taking the analysis, you must:

Refuse to use mouth rinses that include antiseptic ingredients 2-3 days before the procedure.
Avoid the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances a few days before the procedure.
Avoid eating food or drinks 2-3 hours before the study. It is best to take the test on an empty stomach.
On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or, at least a few hours before the examination, not to chew gum.

Quite often, they help to cope with anaerobic bacteria. The composition of medicinal fees should include components such as mint, rosehip, hawthorn. This method of therapy is considered absolutely safe. The first results are achieved within a few days. However, the total duration of therapy should be at least 3 weeks.

How not to infect others

To prevent infection of others, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

wash your hands more often;
use personal hygiene products and dishes;
disinfect the house - wipe door handles, switches, etc.

A throat swab can be considered an informative test that helps identify pathogens and determine their sensitivity to drugs. At the same time, it is very important to carefully prepare for the procedure in order to obtain objective results.

A throat culture is necessary so that medical professionals can determine which microbes are on the mucous membrane. This test is used on the nose and throat to detect the presence of fungal and bacterial infections. As soon as a smear is taken from a child or adult and a sterile spatula is carried out in the pharynx, samples of the resulting tissue are placed in a nutrient medium, where bacteria that cause fungal and infectious diseases can multiply. If an increase in the number of bacteria is found during the study, experts note in the study results that the culture of the tank is positive. When there is no growth of harmful microorganisms, it is negative. The nasal culture is examined in a similar way.

Special preparation before conducting this type of research is not needed, but there are several simple rules that must be followed by adults and children, otherwise the sowing tank will show unreliable results, and a dangerous fungal or infectious disease will not be detected. 2 hours before the collection of tissue samples for analysis, you cannot:

Eating;
drink any liquid;
brush your teeth.

It is necessary to identify diseases in a timely manner and take all necessary measures. It is imperative to clear the nasal passages of mucus accumulations. If a person uses sprays or any medicinal or phytotherapeutic agents for rinsing the throat, the procedures are stopped a few days before the test.

The patient usually receives a referral for culture from the pharynx if there is a suspicion of the presence of:

boils;
sore throats;
tonsillitis.

For children, this analysis can also be prescribed for preventive purposes for the timely detection of infectious and fungal diseases that can cause serious complications in the work of the cardiovascular system, joints, and kidneys.

Decoding the analysis contains data on pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms found in humans. The microorganism staphylococcus is one of the most frequently isolated elements during research. In the normal microflora of the pharynx, staphylococcus may be present and not harm a person.

The epidermidis indicator means that this microorganism is epidermal, and this is already a reason to start sounding the alarm. There are 3 most dangerous types of staphylococcus, which include the epidermal. The microorganism takes root in people with weakened immunity and is the root cause of infectious diseases of the nasopharynx, auditory canal, diseases developing on a smooth area of the skin.

For a healthy person, the microbe is safe, but once the immune system is weakened, infectious diseases immediately cover the internal organs. This type of staphylococcus is resistant to antibiotics, which greatly complicates treatment. The first step in the fight against it is measures to strengthen the body, the immunity of which it weakens.

Proper nutrition, taking vitamins, adherence to the rules of personal hygiene will help to resist this microbe. An important point in the analysis when detecting a pathogenic staphylococcus is to determine the sensitivity of this microbe to medications. Its results are considered the basis for the selection by the doctor of the most effective strategy and methods of therapy.

Often, some tests are required to determine a particular throat infection. But some patients are completely unaware of how to prepare for a throat swab procedure.

A nose or throat swab is a test that helps doctors identify an infection.

This analysis is carried out in the following cases:

To establish the root cause of tonsillitis or pharyngitis. A throat swab is often prescribed by specialists to identify streptococcus, which provokes a sore throat;

To find out if there are various colonies of bacteria in the throat or nose that can cause serious throat problems. For example, a throat swab may be given to people who have frequent boils that are caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

A throat swab can be taken as follows: the nurse asks you to open your mouth and tilt your head back a little. Next, you need to easily press on the tongue of a person with a special plate made of metal and a sterile swab is carried out along the tonsils and throat.

Do not be afraid of this procedure, as it is completely painless. The only negative factor here is that touching the tonsils can cause a gag reflex. Therefore, you should not eat abundantly before the procedure.

Antigenic testing is a special system that responds to microbes. A similar analysis is carried out in order to identify streptococcus, which can easily cause some complications in adolescents.

The biomaterial tubes should be refrigerated. If it is not possible to deliver them immediately to the laboratory, then the analysis must be placed in a preservative. After they are delivered to the laboratory, inoculation must be done. It is important to follow all the rules for the delivery of bacteriological culture. If you have not been able to thoroughly prepare for the procedure, then the result will be incorrect. Then another re-analysis will be required. After the result is ready, you should contact your doctor at the local clinic or make an appointment at a private clinic.

How to prepare for your throat swab

This study is performed in such situations:

Preventive examination when applying for a job. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, patients, etc.
Examination of pregnant women. This helps prevent the development and activity of bacteria that pose a danger to the baby.
A survey of children who are going to enroll in preschool institutions. This helps prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups.
Diagnostics before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that can aggravate the course of the postoperative period.
Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent further spread of the disease.
Research for accurate determination of the causative agent of pathologies of ENT organs. Also, the procedure helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs.
Identification of tonsillitis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media and other pathologies.

Why do they take a smear for flora, says the doctor:

The procedure does not cause pain, but it can provoke discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a swab often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms pending studies that help establish their species.

This study helps to detect category A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The results of this analysis can be obtained within 5-40 minutes. Typically, antigenic tests are highly sensitive.

Sowing involves placing mucus particles from the throat into a special environment that leads to the active reproduction of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms that inhabit the mucous membrane. This allows you to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to antibacterial agents. This is especially important if standard therapy fails.

PCR analysis helps to identify the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is done by the DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a throat swab correctly

For the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before taking the analysis, you must:

Refuse to use mouth rinses that include antiseptic ingredients 2-3 days before the procedure.
Avoid the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances a few days before the procedure.
Avoid eating food or drinks 2-3 hours before the study. It is best to take the test on an empty stomach.
On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or, at least a few hours before the examination, not to chew gum.

Solutions for

rinses

throat preparations

and the nose eliminate most of the microorganisms that are on the mucous membranes. As a consequence, the analysis will give unreliable results.

After eating or using toothpaste, some of the bacterial microorganisms are washed off, which also negatively affects the result.

To evaluate the data obtained as a result of the analysis, you need to know the reasons for its implementation. Most often, the mixed microflora that is present in the smear of healthy people includes a small number of harmful microorganisms - streptococci, staphylococci, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes, veilonella, enterococci, etc.

This phenomenon is considered normal if there are few harmful bacteria and they are not harmful to health. It is not possible to eliminate all microorganisms. A short time after the completion of the course of therapy, bacteria reappear on the mucous membrane.

The interpretation of the results depends on the reason for the study. Particular attention is paid to the number of microorganisms that could provoke an ailment that worries a person. If the volume of bacteria is not more than 10 in the third or fourth degree, the microflora is normal. If the indicator is more than 10 to the fifth degree, one can judge the increased development of opportunistic microorganisms.

How to identify strep throat

Harmful microorganisms that can be detected when performing a throat swab include the following:

beta-hemolytic streptococcus belonging to group A;
the causative agent of diphtheria;
fungi;
the causative agent of whooping cough.

Most of the pathologies of the ENT organs are due to the increased activity of streptococci. It is these microorganisms that are detected with suspicion of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia. In order to exclude

allergic factor

During the study, the level of leukocytes and eosinophils is determined.

How to distinguish the herpes virus from streptococcal infection, says Dr. Komarovsky:

After determining the causative agent of the disease, its sensitivity to antibacterial and antimicrobial agents is assessed. It is necessary to treat the disease with the antibiotic to which the identified microorganisms are sensitive.

Any pathology of the ENT organs should be treated under the guidance of an otolaryngologist. Often, inflammatory processes can be stopped by bacteriophages, which are produced in the form of a solution or spray. These include, in particular, chlorophyllipt.

Quite often, folk recipes help to cope with anaerobic bacteria. The composition of medicinal fees should include such components as mint, rosehip, hawthorn. This method of therapy is considered absolutely safe. The first results are achieved within a few days. However, the total duration of therapy should be at least 3 weeks.

Description

Method of determination bacteriological, bacterioscopic

Study material Pharynx, nose, sinuses

Attention! The research cost is indicated for one localization.

Microbial characteristics of the infection and the rationale for the choice of antibiotics.

Damage to the nose (rhinitis, sinusitis), pharyngeal mucosa (pharyngitis) is often caused by a bacterial infection: streptococcus, pneumococcus, staphylococcus (rhinitis), hemolytic streptococcus (pharyngitis).

Diagnosis and rational therapy is based on the identification of the pathogen and the determination of its sensitivity to antibiotics. This prevents the transition of an acute process to a chronic one.

Isolated pathogens: the main pathogens detected in this test, opportunistic microorganisms: S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, S. pyogenes, S. aureus, less often gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family and fungi of the genus Candida. Representatives of the normal flora are green streptococci (S. viridans group), staphylococci (S. epidermidis), non-pathogenic neisseria (Neisseria sp.), Non-pathogenic diphtheroids (Corynebacterium sp.), Candida sp. and some others.

We draw your attention to the need to purchase a transport medium used for taking smears, which must be purchased in advance at any INVITRO medical office on bail. The refund of collateral is carried out upon the delivery of the analysis and subject to the availability of a check for posting the collateral.

Literature

Order of the USSR Ministry of Health of April 22, 1985 No. 535 On the unification of microbiological (bacteriological) research methods used in clinical diagnostic laboratories of medical institutions.
Encyclopedia of Clinical Laboratory Tests, ed. WELL. Titsa. Publishing house "Labinform" - M. - 1997 - 942 p.
Nightingale C. et al. / Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics in Theory And Clinical Practice / 2006 / M. Dekker inc. / 550 ps.

Indications for appointment

Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis (rhinosinusitis), epiglottitis.

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of test results contains information for the attending physician and does not constitute a diagnosis. The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication. An accurate diagnosis is made by a doctor, using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: anamnesis, results of other examinations, etc.

Information is given:

about the absence or presence of growth;
the number of opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms and yeast-like fungi that have grown in the sowing;
about the genus and type of representatives of conditionally pathogenic flora;
on the sensitivity of pathogens to antibiotics in each case of detection of pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms (if the number is more than 10 4 CFU / tampon). The list of AMPs is determined by the type of pathogens identified, the lists can be found The choice of bacteriophages is determined by the type of pathogens identified, the lists can be found

Important! Determination of the type of fungi and setting the sensitivity to antimycotic agents are not included in this analysis (if a fungal infection is suspected, a test is prescribed).

Interpretation: saprophytic bacteria or opportunistic bacteria in a low titer (< 10 4 кое/тамп). При заболевании выделяются этиологически значимые бактерии в диагностическом титре (>10 4 cfu / swab). In the absence of growth, the study is recommended to be repeated, since the material may be inadequately collected.

Attention! If the growth of normal, concomitant and conditionally pathogenic flora is detected in a low titer and does not have diagnostic value, antibiotic sensitivity is not determined.

Re-ordering the determination of sensitivity to the extended spectrum of AMP is not possible, for this purpose a test is prescribed.

A throat swab gives an idea of the composition of the microflora of the oropharynx. The doctor, evaluating the quantitative composition of microbes, can confirm the infectious origin of the disease. Sowing indicates not only the type of microorganisms, but also allows you to determine the antibiogram. Based on the results of the tank study, he prescribes antibacterial drugs that will be most effective in this case.

Why is smear diagnostics performed?

confirmation of the infectious origin of tonsillitis, sinusitis, meningitis, whooping cough and other diseases; search for Staphylococcus aureus, which is the cause of purulent lesions of the skin (furunculosis, pyoderma); to exclude diphtheria in the absence of Leffler's bacillus in smears; for the diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, as well as mononucleosis.

For prophylactic purposes, taking a smear from the throat is shown:

people who have had contact with a sick person to determine the carrier of bacteria; when employed in the food industry, in hospitals and children's institutions; children before visiting educational institutions, sports activities, a pool to prevent an epidemic; before hospitalization, in the preoperative period.

Pregnant women must be examined to establish the risk of developing an infectious disease, as well as the appearance of complications from the fetus.

Preparatory stage

In order for the analysis to provide the most accurate results, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations. Preparation includes:

5 days before the examination, it is prohibited to take antibacterial drugs, which will allow the reproduction of pathogenic microbes to resume; 3 days before the diagnosis, the use of rinsing solutions, as well as an antiseptic spray, will be canceled. They reduce the number of pathogenic microbes, which makes diagnosis difficult; a throat swab is performed on an empty stomach; before the study, chewing gum, drinks are prohibited, it is undesirable to brush your teeth.

Sampling process

It is possible to facilitate the process of taking a swab from the throat by observing a certain algorithm of actions. The patient needs to tilt his head back a little, open the oral cavity as much as possible in order to show the specialist the posterior pharyngeal wall.

The tongue is fixed with a spatula to the bottom of the mouth. A throat swab is taken with a sterile swab located at the end of the elongated loop. Take a swab carefully, without touching the swab to other surfaces of the oral cavity.

The collected material with a swab is placed in a test tube, after which it is transported to the laboratory in the first 90 minutes. The algorithm must be followed to obtain reliable research results.

When a sterile swab is carried over the surface of the posterior pharyngeal wall, the patient may experience an emetic urge, especially with a pronounced gag reflex.

Microscopy and bacterial culture

Microscopic examination is carried out before bacterial inoculation to determine the cellular composition in order to foresee which colonies can grow on the nutrient medium.

Microscopy is performed by Gram staining, after which cells are visualized under a microscope. Sowing is carried out on a specific environment, since each type of microorganism requires compliance with pH and humidity levels.

Sowing on flora ensures the growth of colonies, on the basis of the shape and shade of which the type of microorganisms is established. The main task of nutrient media is to provide respiration and nutrition of microbes for rapid growth and reproduction.

The material is sown in sterile laboratory conditions in compliance with the rules of asepsis. The medical staff should not forget about protective equipment, since biological material can be extremely dangerous in infectious terms.

The inoculation results are evaluated daily, but the final conclusions are made after a week, analyzing the color, shape and other characteristics of the colonies.

Particular attention is paid to the antibioticogram, which is performed by covering the grown colonies with circles soaked in an antibacterial agent. If pathogenic microbes are sensitive to a specific antibiotic, the growth of colonies is inhibited. In cases where colonies grow under antibacterial action, the drug is considered ineffective. Based on these results, the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy, which helps to cope with the disease.

Diagnostic results

What does the smear show? The flora of the mucous membrane consists of various microorganisms. A smear from the pharynx for microflora shows the number of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes. In a small number of pathogenic bacteria do not cause the development of the disease, as well as opportunistic. However, with a decrease in the body's immune defense against the background of severe general hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic pathology, colds or in the postoperative period, opportunistic bacilli begin to multiply intensively, provoking the development of the disease.

Normally, infections such as streptococcus, Escherichia coli or Neisseria can be found in the flora. This is considered a variant of the norm if their number does not exceed the permissible norm, and there are no clinical signs of an infectious disease.

It is worth noting that one should not undertake their destruction, since after the end of taking antibacterial agents, they again repopulate part of the microflora of the mucous membranes.

When a doctor orders a test, he expects to receive results to confirm the presence or absence of certain pathogens that may have triggered the patient's symptoms.

Decoding a smear from a pharynx includes the name of microorganisms, opposite which their number is indicated, which is expressed in special units. They became known as CFU / ml, which indicates the number of bacterial pathogens growing in one liter of the nutrient medium. Abbreviated CFU called the colony-forming unit.

If the analysis showed a microbial content of ten to the fourth degree, this refers to a variant of the norm. When the result has exceeded this level, for example, is ten to the fifth power, then intense microbial growth is confirmed. An imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is a dysbiosis, which leads to the development of the disease.

If the analysis showed "confluent growth" of microorganisms, it is worth suspecting a large number of bacilli, which form colonies upon fusion. An antibioticogram is also indicated in the results of bacterial culture. It lists antibacterial agents in the form of a tablet. There is a "+" sign next to each antibiotic:

one "+" indicates a low level of sensitivity of the pathogenic microbe in relation to this type of antibacterial agent; two "+" indicates an average level; 3 "+" - high sensitivity.

If the pathogen has no sensitivity to a particular antibiotic, then a tick is put on the contrary. This means that the choice of this antibacterial drug is not advisable, since the therapeutic effect from its use will not be observed.

The analysis, or rather its results, are recorded on a special form. The type of microorganisms is indicated in Latin letters:

a negative result is considered when a throat swab does not have fungal and bacterial flora. In this case, the doctor should suspect a viral infectious pathology. a positive response indicates the presence of the growth of pathogenic / opportunistic microbes that can cause an infectious and inflammatory process in the mouth, nasopharynx. When there is an increase in fungal flora, candidiasis develops in the oral cavity.

We emphasize that normally microflora can consist of fungi, Klebsiella pneumonia, diphtheria, bacteroids, actinomycetes, pseudomonads, non-pathogenic Neisseria, Escherichia coli, streptococci, meningococci, and also epidermal staphylococcus.

As for pathogens, it is worth highlighting Listeria, meningo-, pneumococcus, Leffler's bacillus, hemolytic streptococcus, Branchamella, Haemophilus influenzae, Bordetella, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi.

A throat swab gives an indication of the presence of pathogenic microbes that may have caused the development of the disease. Based on the results of the study, the doctor determines which treatment will be most effective in this case.

A throat swab is a quick and painless procedure that is of great help in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

A swab from the throat is taken for a standard bacteriological study in order to study the microbial composition and quantitative ratio of the microflora of the nasopharynx. This is a laboratory diagnostic method that allows you to identify the causative agents of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. To determine the etiology of the infection, it is necessary to conduct a bacteriological study of the discharge of the nose and throat for microflora.

Specialists send patients with chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis and pharyngitis to a microbiological laboratory, where biomaterial is taken from the nose and throat with a sterile cotton swab and examined. Based on the results of the analysis, the specialist determines the causative agent of the pathology and its sensitivity to antibiotics.

Reasons and purposes of taking a smear on the microflora from the pharynx and nose:

Diagnosis of angina caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus and leading to the development of severe complications - glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, myocarditis. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasopharynx, provoking the formation of boils on the skin. Bacteriological inoculation of clinical material with inflammation of the nasopharynx is carried out in order to exclude diphtheria infection. Suspected meningococcal or pertussis infection, as well as respiratory ailments. Diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, mononucleosis, abscesses located near the tonsils includes a single analysis. Persons in contact with an infectious patient, as well as children entering a kindergarten or school, undergo a preventive examination in order to identify the carrier of bacteria. A complete examination of pregnant women includes taking a smear from the pharynx for microflora. A swab from the throat and nose for staphylococcus aureus is taken by all medical workers, kindergarten teachers, cooks and grocery store sellers. Throat swab to determine the cellular composition of the discharge. The test material is applied to a special glass slide. Under a microscope, a laboratory technician counts the number of eosinophils and other cells in the field of view. Research is being conducted to determine the allergic nature of the disease.

Patients are sent to the bacterial laboratory to study material from the nasopharynx in order to exclude or confirm a specific infection. In the direction indicate the microorganism, the presence of which must be confirmed or refuted.

Microflora of the nasopharynx

The mucous membrane of the pharynx and nose is home to many microorganisms that make up the normal microflora of the nasopharynx. The examination of the discharge of the throat and nose shows the qualitative and quantitative ratio of the microbes that live in this locus.

Types of microorganisms that live on the nasopharyngeal mucosa in healthy people:

Bacteria

With pathology in a smear from the throat and nose, the following microorganisms can be found:

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. aureus, Corinobacterium diphtheria, Haemophilis influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Candida albicans, Bordetella, Listeria, Branhamella catarrhalis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacteriaceae.

More about what appears in the smear staphylococcus, its pathogenicity and staphylococcal infection, we recommend reading the link.

Preparation for analysis

For the results of the analysis to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to select the correct clinical material. For this you need to prepare.

Two weeks before taking the material, they stop taking systemic antibiotics, and 5-7 days before it is recommended to stop using antibacterial solutions, rinses, sprays and ointments for topical use. The test should be done on an empty stomach. Before that, it is forbidden to brush your teeth, drink water and chew gum. Otherwise, the analysis result may be false.

A nasal swab for eosinophils is also taken on an empty stomach. If the person has eaten, it is necessary to wait at least two hours.

Taking material

To correctly take material from the pharynx, patients tilt their head back and open their mouth wide. Specially trained laboratory staff presses the tongue with a spatula and collects the secretion of the pharynx with a special instrument - a sterile cotton swab. Then he removes it from the oral cavity and lowers it into a test tube. The tube contains a special solution, which prevents the death of microbes during material transportation. The tube must be delivered to the laboratory within two hours from the moment of sampling. Taking a throat swab is painless but unpleasant. Touching a cotton swab to the pharyngeal mucosa can provoke vomiting.

To take a swab from the nose, it is necessary to sit the patient opposite and tilt his head slightly. Before the analysis, it is necessary to clear the nose of the existing mucus. The skin of the nostrils is treated with 70% alcohol. A sterile swab is inserted alternately, first into one and then into the other nasal passage, turning the instrument and firmly touching its walls. The swab is quickly lowered into a test tube and the material is sent for microscopic and microbiological examination.

Microscopic examination

The material to be examined is applied to a glass slide, fixed in a burner flame, Gram stained and examined under a microscope with immersion oil. In a smear, gram-negative or gram-positive rods, cocci or coccobacilli are found, their morphological and tinctorial properties are studied.

Microscopic signs of bacteria are an important diagnostic landmark. If the smear contains gram-positive cocci located in clusters resembling bunches of grapes, it is assumed that the causative agent of the pathology is staphylococcus aureus. If the cocci are positively Gram stained and are arranged in chains or pairs in the smear, it may be streptococci; gram-negative cocci - Neisseria; gram-negative sticks with rounded ends and a light capsule - Klebsiella, small gram-negative sticks - Escherichia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further microbiological research is continued taking into account microscopic signs.

Sowing of the test material

Each microorganism grows in its "native" environment, taking into account pH and humidity. Environments are differential diagnostic, selective, universal. Their main purpose is to provide nutrition, respiration, growth and reproduction of bacterial cells.

Inoculation of the test material must be carried out in a sterile box or laminar flow cabinet. The health worker should wear sterile clothing, gloves, mask and shoe covers. This is necessary to maintain sterility in the work area. In boxing, one should work silently, carefully, ensuring personal safety, since any biological material is considered suspicious and known to be infectious.

A swab from the nasopharynx is inoculated on nutrient media and incubated in a thermostat. After several days, colonies of various shapes, sizes and colors grow on the media.

There are special culture media that are selective for a specific microorganism.

Blood agar is the main medium for pharyngeal and nasal microbes. It is a highly sensitive environment containing nutrients for saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria. Pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus produce hemolysins and cause hemolysis of erythrocytes. The hemolytic activity of microbes is the main factor of pathogenicity, which is possessed by most pathogenic bacteria. The growth pattern, color and hemolysis zone differ in microbes of different genera and species. Sabouraud's medium or thioglycolic medium is versatile and suitable for a wide range of microbes. Yolk Salt Agar is an elective medium for growing staphylococci. Warm Blood Agar - Chocolate agar. It is a non-selective, enriched nutrient medium used to grow pathogenic bacteria. On this medium, gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and pathogens of purulent bacterial meningitis grow. Endo medium is a differential diagnostic medium for the cultivation of enterobacteria. Enterococcus is a nutrient medium for the isolation of enterococci.

The material is rubbed with a swab on a medium on a small area of 2 square meters. see, and then, using a bacteriological loop, streaks are scattered over the entire surface of the Petri dish. Crops are incubated in a thermostat at a certain temperature. The next day, the crops are examined, the number of colonies grown is taken into account and their nature is described. Individual colonies are subcultured on selective nutrient media to isolate and accumulate a pure culture. Microscopic examination of a pure culture allows you to determine the size and shape of the bacteria, the presence of a capsule, flagella, spores, the ratio of the microbe to staining. The isolated microorganisms are identified to the genus and species, if necessary, phage typing and serotyping are performed.

Research result

The result of the study is written out by microbiologists on a special form. To decipher the result of a smear from the throat, indicator values are required. The name of the microorganism consists of two Latin words denoting the genus and species of the microbe. Next to the name, the number of bacterial cells is indicated, expressed in specific colony-forming units. After determining the concentration of the microorganism, they proceed to the designation of its pathogenicity - "conditionally pathogenic flora".

In healthy people, bacteria that perform a protective function live on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. They do not cause discomfort and do not cause inflammation. Under the influence of unfavorable endogenous and exogenous factors, the number of these microorganisms increases sharply, which leads to the development of pathology.

Normally, the content of saprophytic and opportunistic microbes in the nasopharynx should not exceed 103-104 CFU / ml, and pathogenic bacteria should be absent. Only a doctor with special skills and knowledge can determine the pathogenicity of a microbe and decipher the analysis. The doctor will determine the feasibility and necessity of prescribing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs to the patient.

After identifying the causative agent of the pathology and its identification to the genus and species, they proceed to determine its sensitivity to phages, antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs. It is necessary to treat a disease of the throat or nose with the antibiotic to which the identified microbe is most sensitive.

throat swab test results

Options for the results of the study of a smear from the throat:

Negative culture result for microflora- there are no pathogens of bacterial or fungal infections. In this case, the cause of the pathology is viruses, not bacteria or fungi. Positive result of culture for microflora- there is an increase in pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria that can cause strep throat, diphtheria, whooping cough and other bacterial infections. With the growth of fungal flora, oral candidiasis develops, the causative agent of which are biological agents of the 3rd pathogenicity group - yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

Microbiological examination of the separated pharynx and nose for flora allows determining the type of microbes and their quantitative ratio. All pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms are subject to complete identification. The result of laboratory diagnostics allows the doctor to correctly prescribe the treatment.

Video: about a smear and staphylococcus in it, Dr. Komarovsky

Throat swab - what is it

Indications

This study is performed in such situations:

Preventive examination when applying for a job. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, patients, etc. Examination of pregnant women. This helps prevent the development and activity of bacteria that pose a danger to the baby. A survey of children who are going to enroll in preschool institutions. This helps prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups. Diagnostics before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that can aggravate the course of the postoperative period. Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent further spread of the disease. Research for accurate determination of the causative agent of pathologies of ENT organs. Also, the procedure helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs. Identification of tonsillitis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media and other pathologies.

Why do they take a smear for flora, says the doctor:

What tests are passed, what can be determined

The procedure does not cause pain, but it can provoke discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a swab often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms pending studies that help establish their species.

This study helps to detect category A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The results of this analysis can be obtained within 5-40 minutes. Typically, antigenic tests are highly sensitive.

Sowing involves placing mucus particles from the throat into a special environment that leads to the active reproduction of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms that inhabit the mucous membrane. This allows you to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to antibacterial agents. This is especially important if standard therapy fails.

PCR analysis helps to identify the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is done by the DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a throat swab correctly

How to prepare

For the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before taking the analysis, you must:

Refuse to use mouth rinses that include antiseptic ingredients 2-3 days before the procedure. Avoid the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances a few days before the procedure. Avoid eating food or drinks 2-3 hours before the study. It is best to take the test on an empty stomach. On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or, at least a few hours before the examination, not to chew gum.

Solutions for

throat rinses

and the nose eliminate most of the microorganisms that are on the mucous membranes. As a consequence, the analysis will give unreliable results.

After eating or using toothpaste, some of the bacterial microorganisms are washed off, which also negatively affects the result.

Decoding

How to identify strep throat

What indicators are the most dangerous

Harmful microorganisms that can be detected when performing a throat swab include the following:

beta-hemolytic streptococcus belonging to group A; the causative agent of diphtheria; fungi; the causative agent of whooping cough.

allergic factor

During the study, the level of leukocytes and eosinophils is determined.

How to distinguish the herpes virus from streptococcal infection, says Dr. Komarovsky:

Features of treatment to eliminate pathogenic microflora

How not to infect others

To prevent infection of others, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

wash your hands more often; use personal hygiene products and dishes; disinfect the house - wipe door handles, switches, etc.

The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!

Lyudmila asks:

How are the results of a pharyngeal smear deciphered?

To decipher the results of a throat smear, you need to know the value of the indicators indicated on the form in the form of a table or list. Consider each indicator and its specific meaning.

As a result, the name of one or more microorganisms that were identified in the nasal swab will be indicated. Most often, their names are written in Latin, for example, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, etc. All of these microbes, as a result of a smear from the throat, constitute the vast majority of the representatives of the microflora of the mucous membrane of the throat. For example, the smear says Streptococcus pyogenes. This means that on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the main microbe of the microflora is streptococcus.

Its quantity is indicated next to the name of the microorganism or in the corresponding column of the table. Moreover, the number of microbes is measured in special units - CFU / ml. CFU is an abbreviation for colony forming unit. That is, the number of bacteria on the mucous membrane of the pharynx is measured in the number of CFUs that grow in one liter of the culture medium.

However, these terms are too abstract, so we will consider how the CFU counting occurs in reality. The collected swab from the throat is brought to the laboratory, where special nutrient media have already been prepared, which are designed specifically for the growth of various bacteria. A loop is drawn over the surface of the media and left in an incubator to allow the inoculated bacteria to grow. From bacteria applied to the surface of the medium, whole colonies grow, having the form of spots of various shapes. Each such spot is a cluster of bacteria, which scientists call a colony. From this colony, many new ones can be grown by reseeding. That is why such accumulations of bacteria that have grown on a nutrient medium from a smear are called colony-forming units.

After the colonies of microbes grow on the nutrient medium, the bacteriologist counts their number by various methods. The most commonly used method is serial dilution, in which 1 ml of the starting biological material is diluted 10 times and added to a second tube. Then 1 ml from the second tube is again diluted 10 times and added to the third tube. There are at least 10 such serial dilutions. Then, material is taken from all dilution tubes and inoculated onto a nutrient medium. The maximum concentration of CFU is considered to be the dilution in which microbes no longer grow. For example, colonies grew from the fifth test tube on the medium, but not from the sixth. This means that CFU / ml is equal to the dilution from the 6th tube, which is 10 6.

The importance of microbial count should not be underestimated. If the number of any microbe in the throat swab is less than 10 3 - 10 4, then this is a variant of the norm. If its amount is more than 10 5 CFU / ml, then this indicates the rapid growth of conditionally pathogenic flora, that is, a person has developed dysbiosis of the mucous membranes of the throat. Sometimes the results indicate not the number of CFUs, but write "confluent growth", which means a very large number of bacteria forming confluent colonies, which simply cannot be accurately counted. In rare cases, throat swab results indicate bacteria counts as 10 1 CFU / ml. This means that the number of bacteria is too small, so they do not play a role in the development of inflammation in the nasal mucosa.

In addition to parameters regarding the number and type of microbes present on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, an antibiogram can be presented in the smear results. An antibioticogram is a study of a microbe for sensitivity to various antibiotics. Moreover, the higher the sensitivity, the more destructive the antibiotic is on this microbe. Based on the sensitivity to antibiotics, the doctor chooses the most effective drug for treatment.

An antibiogram can be presented in the form of a table or a simple list, in which the names of antibiotics are listed from bottom to top. Opposite each antibiotic there is a designation in the form of "+", "++" or "+++". One plus "+" means that the sensitivity of the microbe to this antibiotic is practically absent, "++" reflect low sensitivity, and "+++" - high. In some cases, instead of signs in the form of pluses, a tick is used to indicate the sensitivity of a microbe to an antibiotic, which fits into the corresponding column of the table in the column "high", "low", "absent". If the checkbox is in the "missing" column, then this antibiotic is completely ineffective against the identified microbe. A check mark in the "high" column corresponds to "+++", and in the "low" column - "++". If you need to undergo a course of treatment, then you should choose an antibiotic to which the identified microbes are highly sensitive. That is, the most effective antibiotics will be those with the "+++" icon or a check mark in the "high" column next to them.

Learn more on this topic:

Blood test for antibodies - detection of infectious diseases (measles, hepatitis, Helicobacter pylori, tuberculosis, lamblia, treponema, etc.). Blood test for the presence of Rh antibodies during pregnancy
Blood test for antibodies - types (ELISA, RIA, immunoblotting, serological techniques), norm, interpretation of results. Where can you take it? Research cost.
Fundus examination - how the examination proceeds, results (norm and pathology), price. Fundus examination in pregnant women, children, newborns. Where can I get tested?
Examination of the fundus - what shows which structures of the eye can be examined, which doctor prescribes? Types of fundus examination: ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy (with Goldman lens, fundus lens, slit lamp).