Culture And Sensitivity Anaerobic Pericardial Fluid

Pericardial fluid may be cultured to test the sensitivity of the bacteria which may be the reason for infections. This test helps in diagnosing the cause of inflammation or the cause of fluid accumulation around the heart. The goal is to see if there is an anaerobic infection present in the pericardium. If there is a growth of bacteria in the culture, then it may be the reason for inflammation of the pericardium or accumulation of fluid around the heart. The inflammation in the pericardium is called pericarditis. If the bacteria is the reason for pericarditis then it is called bacterial pericarditis.

What is bacterial pericarditis?

The pericardium is a thin membrane that surrounds the heart. It plays a role in protecting the heart. This thin membrane also helps in preventing the infection and also keeps your heart from expanding too much. Diseases and health problems may cause the inflammation of this membrane, this condition is called pericarditis. The causes of pericarditis may be viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections or trauma from surgery or another injury.

What are anaerobic bacteria?

Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that can not survive in the presence of oxygen. Some of the examples of anaerobic bacteria are Staphylococcus, E.Coli, Clostridium, Actinomyces, Acetobacterium, etc. The growth of anaerobic bacteria causes anaerobic infections. Anaerobic infections can occur when deep tissues are injured or exposed. This can occur due to surgery or trauma, etc. The risk factors of getting an anaerobic infection are diabetes, a weak immune system, low blood flow, staph infection, open wounds, etc. The common symptoms of anaerobic infection are smelly discharge, pus-filled abscess, discoloration of the infected area, etc.

Why this test is performed?

This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like fever, dry cough, tiredness, sweating, pain when you breathe, shortness of breath especially while lying down, splinting of the ribs, by bending over and holding your chest, while breathing, swelling in your abdomen or legs, etc. This test may be specially performed to check if the infection is due to anaerobic bacteria or not. This test is also recommended to plan the treatment according to the type of bacteria. The test is also 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 anaerobic bacteria.

If your test results show positive it may indicate that you may have an anaerobic bacterial infection in the pericardium.

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