Name of the Procedure:

Culture, bacterial; stool, aerobic, additional pathogens, isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, each plate.

Summary

This procedure involves taking a stool sample to identify and isolate specific bacteria under aerobic conditions. The goal is to pinpoint the bacteria causing infection.

Purpose

The procedure is used to diagnose bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract. It helps identify the specific bacteria responsible for conditions like diarrhea, allowing for targeted treatment.

Indications

• Persistent or severe diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Fever of unknown origin
• History of traveling to areas with prevalent bacterial infections

Preparation

• No special preparation is typically required.
• The patient should follow any specific instructions provided by their healthcare provider, such as avoiding certain medications that might affect the test results.

Procedure Description

1. The patient provides a stool sample using a sterile container.
2. The sample is sent to the lab where it is plated on various growth mediums designed to support aerobic bacterial growth.
3. Over a period of 24-48 hours, the plates are incubated and monitored for bacterial colonies.
4. Any significant bacterial growth is isolated and undergoes presumptive identification using biochemical tests.
5. Identification results are reported to the healthcare provider.

Duration

The procedure itself takes only a few minutes to collect the sample, but the isolation and identification process in the lab typically take 24-48 hours.

Setting

• Outpatient clinic or hospital laboratory.

Personnel

• Clinical laboratory technologists who specialize in microbiology.

Risks and Complications

• Minimal risk associated with the collection of the stool sample.
• There is a very low risk of contamination, which could affect the test results.

Benefits

• Precise identification of the pathogen causing the infection.
• Facilitates targeted antibiotic treatment, leading to faster recovery.

Recovery

• No recovery period is necessary for the procedure itself.
• Follow-up involves reviewing results with the healthcare provider to discuss the appropriate treatment plan.

Alternatives

• Other tests like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for bacterial DNA.
• Pros: These alternatives may provide faster results.
• Cons: They might be more expensive or less specific for certain pathogens.

Patient Experience

• The patient may feel mild discomfort when collecting the stool sample.
• No pain is involved, and no sedation is required.
• Post-procedure, the patient can resume normal activities immediately.