Еar swab
General Information:
Occlusive secretions are taken in cases of infection and secretion from the ear. The causes are the most common: acute and chronic middle otitis, mastoiditis, otitis externa, folliculitis, complications of other infections.
The ear swab is taken from a sore ear or both ears in a generalized infection.
It is recommended that the patient does not treat the ear canal with medication at least 12 hours before manipulation.
Study for pathogenic microorganisms and fungi (Candida). In the presence of a positive result of the microbiological test, the sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms to the medication (antibacterial) is determined in order to select the most appropriate treatment.
An external ear specimen is usually taken by an ENT specialist due to the need for specific equipment. A microbiological test material is not taken after administration of topical antibacterial agents. The test may continue for up to three days after the material has been received in the laboratory due to the need of isolating pathogens from the (normal) microbial flora.
in the laboratory due to the need to isolate pathogens from the (normal) microbial flora.
Most often isolated micro-organisms from ear secretions:
Acute Otitis
- S.pneumoniae
- Haemophilus
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- S.aureus
Chronic otitis
- Анаероби
- Enterobacteriaceae
- P.aeruginosa
- S.aureus
Outer Otitis
- P.aeruginosa
- S.aureus
- S.pyogenes
Sample Required:
Sterile cotton/polyethene pad or Amies/Stuart transport environment. The medical specialist pulls the earlobe up and back to open the ear canal. With the swab penetrating carefully into the groove (as in the bathroom cleaning), pain should not be induced. The swab is allowed to soak in the swab and is carefully removed without touching the earlobe.
Another sterile pad must be used for the other ear.
Keywords:
Ear swab, bacteria, infection,