Fungal Culture Drain Fluid
What is this test?
Fungal culture drain fluid is performed on a sample of drainage fluid taken from a wound to check for the fungal growth on it. This test helps to know whether you have wound fungal infections or not.
What are wound fungal infections?
Fungal organisms are found anywhere in the environment. They exist as two forms yeasts and molds. The fungal organisms that exhibit a temperature-dependent switch between these two forms are known as dimorphic. These organisms can cause infections in individuals with poor immunity.
Candida species are the most common form of yeasts that cause fungal infections. These fungal organisms cause bloodstream infection with involvement of other organs. Cryptococcus species are another form of yeasts which can cause infections especially in individuals with poor immunity. Aspergillus genus members are a form of molds which can cause diseases and can trigger the allergic reactions in many individuals. Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor etc are other forms of molds that rarely cause infection. Histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, sporotrichosis, coccidioidomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, and chromoblastomycosis are fungi that are dimorphic in nature. These fungal organisms exist as yeast form in infected individuals (host) and as a mold form in the environment.
A wound is an injury that can be open or closed. An open wound is a cut or puncture on the skin. These wounds are minor and can be treated at home unless if it is too deep. A closed wound is an injury under the skin and is not exposed to the air. This type of wound also become infected with germs such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. If a wound gets infected before healing, it turns to a yellowish, bad-smelling fluid called pus. This fluid comes out of the wound and is called a wound drainage. The signs and symptoms of an infected wound are fever, thick green, yellow, or brown pus, pus with a foul smell, an increase in drainage, pain, swelling, warmth, redness around the wound, etc. This test helps to know whether the wound is infected with fungal organisms or not.
Why this test is performed?
This test is performed as part of routine health screening or to determine the presence of fungal growth on a sample of drainage fluid taken from a wound. Your doctor may ask to perform this test if you experience any signs and symptoms of a wound infection such as fever, thick green, yellow, or brown pus, pus with a foul smell, an increase in drainage, pain, swelling, warmth, redness around the wound, etc. This test is also performed to monitor and evaluate the treatment effectiveness in individuals receiving treatment for wound infections. However, your doctor may ask to perform a susceptibility testing on the fungi isolated from this culture test to determine the antifungal treatment.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Fungal Culture Drain Fluid. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Fungal Culture Drain Fluid.
No specific preparation is required for this test. However, follow all the instructions given by your healthcare provider.
Understanding your test results
The test results may be vary depending on gender, age, health conditions, and other factors.
If the culture test is positive it may indicate the growth of fungal organisms on the sample of drainage fluid taken from a wound. It may indicate the presence of wound fungal infections. However, a few more additional tests may also be performed depending on the suspected cause and typical results, along with the physical symptoms to diagnose the exact infection.
If the culture test is negative it means no growth of fungal organisms is detected from the sample of drainage fluid taken from a wound.
Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments or further diagnostic tests.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | The growth observed depends on the type of the fungal organism that grows |