Microbiology
| Full details for "Throat swab culture". | |
|---|---|
Name |
Throat swab culture |
Alternative name/Profile |
Sore throat / pharyngitis / tonsillitis / tonsillopharyngitis / laryngitis / Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Corynebacterium ulcerans / Diphtheria / group A streptococcus / Neisseria meningitidis / Neisseria gonorrhoeae / meningococcal meningitis / oropharyngeal candidosis / dysphagia oesophageal candidiasis / Epiglottitis / Haemophilus influenzae / Staphylococcus aureus / MRSA / pharyngeal swab / diptheria/Arcanobacterium/Fusobacterium necrophorum/Persistent Sore Throat/Lemierre Syndrome |
Department |
Microbiology |
Investigation |
|
Specimen type |
Throat swab |
Sample type |
|
Sample container & volume |
transwab plain |
Frequency of analysis |
Daily; 08:00 - 20:00 |
Turnaround time |
5 days |
Availability |
Monday - Saturday |
Notes |
Throat swab taken from the tonsillar area and/or posterior pharynx avoiding the tongue and uvula. Hold samples at room temperature. The most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (Lancefield group A streptococcus). Most laboratory procedures concentrate primarily on this organism. However a proportion of healthy individuals are carriers of Streptococcus pyogenes and its isolation does not necessarily imply a role in infection.Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis may be associated with extrapharyngeal manifestations such as rheumatic fever, toxic-shock-like syndrome and glomerulonephritis. Result telephoned if Streptococcus pyogenes is isolated Mass immunisation has resulted in the virtual disappearance of toxigenic C. diphtheriae from the United Kingdom and Ireland, but it may not have affected the carriage of non-toxigenic strains. The increase in the isolation of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae is of concern as the organism has the potential to cause invasive disease in some patients. Laboratory acquired infections have been reported. Please contact the laboratory if diphtheria or pertussis is suspected. Fusobacterium necrophorum is part of the normal anaerobic throat flora & can cause a condition called Lemierre syndrome, a severe illness which typically occurs in healthy teenagers and young adults. Infection originates in the throat and spreads via a septic thrombophlebitis of the tonsillar & internal jugular veins. If isolated on a throat swab consult the Microbiologist for guidance re treatment as some strains can be beta-lactamase producers. Comment: Culture for Diptheria is not performed in St. James's Hospital Microbiology Laboratory,send sample to Tallaght Hospital Microbiology Department. Please refer to Bordatella pertussis culture in the on-line user guide for information.
Send sample to the laboratory without delay. Sample should be refrigerated if not transported immediately. |
Related links |
For further information please consult: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423204/B_9i9.pdf |
Reference range |
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Last updated |
Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:59:40 GMT |