Culture And Sensitivity Aerobic Central Venous Catheier Tip Swab

Central venous catheter tip swab may be cultured to test the sensitivity of the bacteria. This test helps in diagnosing the infection. The goal is to see if there is an aerobic infection present. For this test, a sterile cotton swab is used to collect the fluid at the tip. The cotton swab is sent to the laboratory and cultured.

What is catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI)?

This catheter-related bloodstream infection is due to the presence of bacteria originating from an intravenous (i.v.) catheter. This infection is also called as catheter-related sepsis. This infection is the most common complication of central venous catheterization. Catheter-related bloodstream infections may trigger a systemic inflammatory response which will lead to fever, leucocytosis (increase in the number of white blood cells), low blood pressure, pale and cool arms and legs, chills, difficulty in breathing and decreased urine output. Mental confusion and disorientation may also develop quickly.

What are Bacteria and Aerobic Bacteria?

Bacteria are the single-celled micro-organisms that can live within the soil, in the ocean and also inside the human gut. They have a number of shapes such as spirals, rods, and spheres etc. Some bacteria can cause illness to the human body and some other plays a major role in the overall functioning of our ecosystem.

Aerobic bacteria are the bacteria which can survive in the presence of oxygen only. In the absence of oxygen, aerobic bacteria cannot survive and can die. Some of the aerobic bacteria are Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nocardia, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis etc.

Why this test is performed?

This test may be performed to assess potential catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). If you experience symptoms like low blood pressure, pale and cool arms and legs, chills, difficulty in breathing and decreased urine output, mental confusion and disorientation, etc then this test is performed. This test may be specially performed to check if the infection is due to aerobic bacteria or not. This test is also recommended to plan the treatment according to the type of bacteria. The test is recommended to check the effectiveness of the treatment given.

The normal test results may vary depending on age, health history, medical condition, etc.

If your test results show negative it means there is no growth of aerobic bacteria.

If your test results show positive it may indicate that you may have aerobic bacterial infection.

If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately with your lab test reports.