Suitability of Various Specimens for Anaerobic Culture
Site
Head and Neck
Lungs
Central Nervous System
Abdomen
Urinary Tract
Genital Tract
Bone and Joint
Soft Tissue
Large bowel
Acceptable specimens
*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe
after surface decontamination.
*Biopsy material surgically obtained.
*Anaerobic swab surgically obtained when aspirate
not feasible.
*Transtracheal aspirate
*Material from percutaneous lung puncture.
*Bronchoscopic specimen obtained by protected
brush.
*Thoracotomy specimen.
*Anaerobic swab surgically obtained.
*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe.
*Biopsy material surgically obtained.
*Anaerobic swabs surgically obtained.
*Peritoneal fluid obtained by needle and syringe.
*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe.
*Bile
*Biopsy material surgically obtained.
*Anaerobic swab surgically obtained.
*Suprapubic aspirate
*Culdoscopy specimens
*Endometrial aspirate obtained by suction or
protected collector
*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe.
*Biopsy material surgically obtained (Placenta,
fallopian tube)
*Anaerobic swabs surgically obtained
* IUD for Actinomyces species or Eubacterium
nodatum.
*Aspirate obtained by needle and syringe
*Biopsy material surgically obtained
*Anaerobic swab surgically obtained
*Bone marrow or Blood culture
*Aspirate obtained by needle and syringe.
*Biopsy material surgically obtained.
*Aspirate from sinus tract obtained by needle and
small plastic catheter.
*Deep aspirate of open-wound margin obtained
through decontaminated skin.
*Deep aspirate of surface ulcer obtained through
decontaminated skin.
Only for toxin assay for suspected Clostridium
difficile
Unacceptable specimens
*Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs
*Gingival swabs
*Superficial material collected on
swabs
*Expectorated sputum
*Induced sputum
*Endotracheal aspirate
*Bronchoscopic specimens not
specially collected
*Aerobic swabs
*Aerobic swabs
*Voided urine
*Catheterized urine
*Vaginal, vulvar or cervical secretion
swabs
* Lochia secretions
* Prostatic or seminal fluid
*Perineal swab
* Urethral secretions
*Superficial material collected with
swabs.
*Superficial material collected from
skin surface or edges of wound
Stool or Rectal swab