Tank seeding from the nose and pharynx for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics. Questions. What diseases are caused by pathogens?

Antibiotic susceptibility testing of infectious agents is vital because of the rapid growth and widespread prevalence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This research allows:

  • evaluate the effectiveness of new antibacterial drugs against the studied pathogen:
  • determine the feasibility of using old drugs (due to the growth of resistance to antibiotics);
  • control the spread of antibacterial resistance in certain regions, countries, etc.

At the moment, antibiotic therapy is prescribed either empirically or etiotropically. When empirically prescribed, the natural sensitivity of the pathogen, data on its resistance, as well as epidemiological information on the resistance of bacteria in a given region are taken into account. The main advantage of this principle of antibiotic prescribing is the ability to quickly initiate antimicrobial therapy. Etiotiropnaya therapy can be carried out only after the isolation and identification of the pathogen, as well as after establishing its sensitivity to antibiotics.

Determining the degree of sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to various antibacterial drugs is called an antibiogram. This study is carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of an empirically selected antibiotic and, if necessary, replace the drug, change it to the one to which the pathogen is most sensitive.

The importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing is due to the rapid growth of acquired resistance among bacteria, as well as the wide choice of antibacterial drugs.

Throat swab for microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics

A tank of sowing mucus from the throat and nose allows you to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the composition of the microflora and identify:

  • pathogens of acute and chronic diseases (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, etc.);
  • clinically significant chronic carriage of staphylococci, pneumococci, etc.

Normally, in healthy people, saprophytic or conditionally pathogenic flora are determined in low titers (less than 10 3 CFU / ml). Values ​​greater than 10 4 CFU are considered clinically significant.

A swab from the pharynx and nose for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics makes it possible to isolate not only the causative agent of an infectious and inflammatory disease, but also to determine which antibacterial drugs are most detrimental to it.

It must be remembered that two days before sowing mucus, it is forbidden to use antimicrobial sprays, rinses, and nasal ointments. It is also forbidden to treat tonsils with Lugol's solution ® .

The sampling of material should be carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach. To obtain reliable results, it is not recommended to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth.

When taking the material (taking a swab from the throat), it is necessary that the sterile swab with which the sample is taken does not come into contact with the tongue and lips. To do this, the patient is asked to open his mouth wide and press his tongue with a spatula. Scraping is taken only from the pharynx, from both tonsils. If there are visible raids on the tonsils, then the scraping is taken first of all from the inflamed area.

Deciphering culture from the pharynx for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics includes a conclusion from a bacteriological laboratory with an established type of pathogen, its titers and antibiogram results (performed if the growth of bacterial colonies in the culture was diagnostically significant).

Sputum culture

Many patients confuse throat culture with sputum culture. It is important to understand that sputum is not saliva, it reflects the microflora of the respiratory tract itself. Therefore, sputum sampling should be carried out after rinsing the mouth (this will reduce the likelihood of contamination of the sample with saliva). It is preferable to collect sputum in the morning, after a deep cough.

Sputum culture for microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics is carried out for tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, etc. Values ​​greater than 10 6 are considered diagnostically significant.

At low titers due to saprophytic or opportunistic flora, there is a possibility that the test sample is represented mostly by saliva, that is, the material was collected incorrectly.

It should also be taken into account that all microflora cultures taken against the background of ongoing antibiotic therapy are non-informative, since the results obtained will be false-negative.

When decoding the analysis, information is given:

  • presence or absence of bacterial colony growth in the sample;
  • how many microorganisms grew in the crop;
  • what genus and species the cultivated pathogens belong to;
  • to what antibacterial preparations these bacteria are sensitive;
  • which antibiotics are not effective (acquired or natural resistance).

For opportunistic pathogens, concentrations from 10 6 obtained repeatedly with an interval of 3-5 days are considered clinically informative values. An antibiogram is compiled only for pathogens that are diagnostically significant. That is, an analysis for sensitivity to antibiotics is carried out after the pathogen is sown (group A streptococci, pneumococci, Klebsiella, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, chlamydia, mycoplasma).

Blood for sterility and sensitivity to antibiotics

Blood cultures for sterility are performed if bacteremia is suspected. To obtain reliable results, blood sampling should be carried out before starting treatment with antibacterial drugs.

Blood for sensitivity to antibiotics is examined only after studying the blood for sterility and identifying pathogenic microorganisms in it (staphylo- and streptococci, enterococci, meningococci, etc.).

It is impossible to determine the presence of bacteria in the blood using microscopy of a freshly taken sample, since it does not contain the required amount of bacteria.

To confirm or exclude bacteremia, the blood is placed in a special cultural nutrient medium and incubated, subject to a temperature regime of 37 0 C (this temperature is optimal for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms). This is necessary in order to ensure visible bacterial growth. Depending on the type of microorganism (fast-growing or slow-growing), the obvious growth of bacteria becomes noticeable after 18-72 hours. As a general rule, if there is no appreciable growth of microorganisms in the sample after three days, then bacteremia is unlikely, but the culture should continue to be monitored in case it contains slow-growing microorganisms.

If colony growth is detected, the culture is stained and examined under a microscope. Due to this, the type of pathogens is determined (gram-, gram+ cocci, bacilli, etc.). Further, for a more accurate identification of the pathogen, seeding is carried out on special dense media in a Petri dish. With the help of special chemical tests, the type of microorganism is determined.

After identifying the pathogen, a blood test is performed for sensitivity to antibiotics. This is necessary in order to determine which antibiotic will be most effective.

It is important to understand that bacteremia is a life-threatening condition that requires the immediate administration of antibacterial drugs. In this regard, the doctor cannot wait for the results of the antibiogram (usually the answer comes in three days) and is forced to empirically prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotic susceptibility culture data is vital if the disease is caused by a flora with acquired resistance to one or more antibiotics. In this case, the empirically prescribed drug may not be effective and a drug change will be required, which is already performed on the basis of the results of the study.

How is blood taken for sterility?

The blood sample is placed in a blood culture bottle, avoiding any contamination (contact with the skin of the patient or staff, objects, etc.). The blood culture bottle is removed from the refrigerator immediately before material sampling and warmed to room temperature. After opening the outer (plastic cap), the inner cap of the bottle is treated with seventy percent alcohol (ethyl) for a minute. The patient's skin, directly above the puncture site, is treated with seventy percent ethyl alcohol and 1-2% iodine.

After the treated area has dried, it is necessary to perform venipuncture without touching the treated surface with your hands.

Blood for research should be taken before starting antibiotic therapy. In acute sepsis, it is necessary to perform 2-3 material samplings with an hourly interval. Taking multiple samples increases the chance of detecting bacteria, and also allows you to differentiate between true bacteremia (bacteria in both samples) and contamination of the sample with bacteria (bacteria in one sample due to poor sampling technique).

In febrile patients, blood should be taken when the temperature rises, either immediately or after the temperature peak has passed.

What does the analysis show?

When deciphering the analysis, intermediate (daily) and final conclusions are taken into account. Responses from the bacteriological laboratory are classified into three types:

  • negative (no growth of microorganisms);
  • net growth detected (growth of only one species);
  • mixed growth was detected (as a rule, this indicates a violation of the rules for taking the material and contamination of the sample).

In the final result, when bacteria are detected, their type and the result of the study on sensitivity to antibiotics are indicated.

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

Ludmila asks:

How are throat smear results interpreted?

To decipher the results of a throat smear, you need to know the value of the indicators indicated on the form in the form of a table or list. Consider each indicator and its specific value.

The result will be the name of one or more microorganisms that were detected in the nasal swab. Most often, their names are written in Latin, for example, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, etc. All of these microbes as a result of a throat swab constitute the vast majority of representatives of the microflora of the mucous membrane of the throat. For example, the smear says Streptococcus pyogenes. This means that on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the main microbe of the microflora is streptococcus.

Next to the name of the microorganism or in the corresponding column of the table, its quantity is indicated. Moreover, the number of microbes is measured in special units - CFU / ml. CFU is an abbreviation for colony forming unit. That is, the number of bacteria on the mucous membrane of the pharynx is measured in the number of CFU that grow in one liter of nutrient medium.

However, these terms are too abstract, so let's consider how the CFU is calculated in reality. The swab taken from the throat is brought to the laboratory, where special nutrient media have already been prepared, which are designed specifically for the growth of various bacteria. The loop is passed over the surface of the media and left in a thermostat so that the inoculated bacteria can grow. Bacteria deposited on the surface of the medium grow whole colonies that look like spots of various shapes. Each such spot is a cluster of bacteria, which scientists call a colony. From this colony, many new ones can be grown by reseeding. That is why such accumulations of bacteria grown on a nutrient medium from a smear are called colony-forming units.

After colonies of microbes grow on a nutrient medium, the bacteriologist counts their number by various methods. The most commonly used method is serial dilutions, in which 1 ml of the original biological material is diluted 10 times and added to the second test tube. Then 1 ml from the second tube is again diluted 10 times and added to the third tube. Such serial dilutions are made at least 10. Then, material is taken from all test tubes with dilutions and sown on a nutrient medium. The maximum concentration of CFU is the dilution in which microbes no longer grow. For example, colonies grew from the fifth tube on the medium, but not from the sixth one. Hence, CFU/ml is equal to the dilution from the 6th test tube, which is 10 6 .

The importance of microbial counts cannot be underestimated. If the amount of any microbe in a throat swab is less than 10 3 - 10 4, then this is a variant of the norm. If its amount is more than 10 5 CFU / ml, then this indicates a rapid growth of opportunistic flora, that is, a person has developed dysbacteriosis of the mucous membranes of the throat. Sometimes the results do not indicate the number of CFUs, but write "confluent growth", which means a very large number of bacteria forming confluent colonies that simply cannot be accurately counted. In rare cases, the results of a throat swab indicate that the number of bacteria is 10 1 CFU / ml. This means that the number of bacteria is too small, so they do not play a role in the development of inflammation in the nasal mucosa.

In addition to parameters regarding the number and type of microbes present on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, an antibiogram can be presented in the smear results. An antibiogram is a study of a microbe for sensitivity to various antibiotics. Moreover, the higher the sensitivity, the more detrimental the antibiotic acts on this microbe. Based on sensitivity to antibiotics, the doctor chooses the most effective drug for treatment.

The antibiogram can be presented in the form of a table or a simple list, in which the names of antibiotics are listed from bottom to top. Opposite each antibiotic is a designation in the form of icons "+", "++" or "+++". One plus "+" means that the sensitivity of the microbe to this antibiotic is practically absent, "++" reflects low sensitivity, and "+++" - high. In some cases, instead of plus signs, a tick is used to indicate the sensitivity of a microbe to an antibiotic, which fits into the corresponding column of the table in the "high", "low", "absent" columns. If there is a checkmark in the "absent" column, then this antibiotic is completely ineffective against the identified microbe. A tick in the "high" column corresponds to the "+++" sign, and in the "low" column - "++". If you need to undergo a course of treatment, then you should choose an antibiotic to which the identified microbes are highly sensitive. That is, the most effective antibiotics will be those opposite which there is a "+++" sign or a tick in the "high" column.

Learn more on this topic:
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A swab from the pharynx gives an idea of ​​the composition of the microflora of the oropharynx. The doctor, having assessed the quantitative composition of microbes, can confirm the infectious origin of the disease. Sowing indicates not only the type of microorganisms, but also allows you to determine the antibiogram. Based on the results of the tank study, he prescribes antibacterial drugs that will be most effective in this case.

TEST: Find out what's wrong with your throat

Did you have an elevated body temperature on the first day of illness (on the first day of the onset of symptoms)?

For a sore throat, you:

How often lately (6-12 months) have you experienced similar symptoms (sore throat)?

Feel the neck area just below the lower jaw. Your feelings:

With a sharp increase in temperature, you have used an antipyretic drug (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol). Thereafter:

What sensations do you experience when you open your mouth?

How would you rate the effect of throat lozenges and other topical pain relievers (sweets, sprays, etc.)?

Ask someone close to look down your throat. To do this, rinse your mouth with clean water for 1-2 minutes, open your mouth wide. Your assistant should illuminate himself with a flashlight and look into the oral cavity by pressing a spoon on the root of the tongue.

On the first day of illness, you clearly feel an unpleasant putrefactive bite in your mouth and your loved ones can confirm the presence of an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity.

Can you say that in addition to a sore throat, you are worried about coughing (more than 5 attacks per day)?

Why is a smear test performed?

  • confirmation of the infectious origin of tonsillitis, sinusitis, meningitis, whooping cough and other diseases;
  • search for Staphylococcus aureus, which is the cause of purulent lesions of the skin (furunculosis, pyoderma);
  • to exclude diphtheria in the absence of Leffler's bacillus in smears;
  • for the diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, as well as mononucleosis.

For prophylactic purposes, taking a swab from the pharynx is indicated:

  • people who had contact with a sick person to determine the bacteriocarrier;
  • in employment in the food industry, in medical and children's institutions;
  • children before visiting educational institutions, sports, swimming pool to prevent the epidemic;
  • before hospitalization, in the preoperative period.

Pregnant women are required to study to establish the risk of developing an infectious disease, as well as the occurrence of complications from the fetus.

Preparatory stage

In order for the analysis to provide the most accurate results, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations. Preparation includes:

  • 5 days before the examination, it is forbidden to take antibacterial drugs, which will allow the reproduction of pathogenic microbes to resume;
  • 3 days before the diagnosis, the use of rinsing solutions, as well as a spray with an antiseptic effect, will be canceled. They reduce the number of pathogenic microbes, which makes it difficult to diagnose;
  • a swab from the throat is performed on an empty stomach;
  • before the study, chewing gum, drinks are prohibited, it is undesirable to brush your teeth.

Material collection process

It is possible to facilitate the process of taking a swab from the throat by following a certain algorithm of actions. The patient needs to slightly tilt his head back, to open the oral cavity as much as possible in order to show the posterior pharyngeal wall to the specialist.

The tongue is fixed with a spatula to the bottom of the oral cavity. A swab from the throat is taken with a sterile swab located at the end of an elongated loop. Take a smear carefully, without touching the swab to other surfaces of the oral cavity.

The collected material with a swab is placed in a test tube, after which it is transported to the laboratory in the first 90 minutes. The algorithm must be observed to obtain reliable research results.

When a sterile swab is passed over the surface of the posterior pharyngeal wall, the patient may experience a gag urge, especially with a pronounced gag reflex.

Microscopy and culture

Microscopic examination is carried out before bacteriological examination to determine the cellular composition in order to provide for which colonies can grow on a nutrient medium.

Microscopy is performed by staining according to the Gram method, after which cells are visualized under a microscope. Sowing is done on a specific medium, since each type of microorganism requires compliance with pH and humidity levels.

Sowing on flora ensures the growth of colonies, on the basis of the shape and shade of which the type of microorganisms is established. The main task of nutrient media is to provide respiration and nutrition for microbes for rapid growth and reproduction.

The material is sown in sterile laboratory conditions in compliance with the rules of asepsis. Medical staff should not forget about protective equipment, as biological material can be extremely infectious in terms of infection.

The results of the inoculation are evaluated daily, but the final conclusions are made after a week, analyzing the color, shape and other characteristics of the colonies.

Particular attention is paid to the antibiogram, which is performed by covering the area of ​​grown colonies with circles soaked in an antibacterial agent. If pathogenic microbes are sensitive to a particular antibiotic, colony growth is inhibited. In cases where colonies grow under antibacterial action, the drug is considered ineffective. Based on these results, the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy, which helps to cope with the disease.

Diagnostic results

What does a smear show? The flora of the mucous membrane consists of various microorganisms. A swab from the pharynx for microflora shows the number of pathogenic, as well as opportunistic microbes. In a small number of pathogenic bacteria do not cause the development of the disease, as well as opportunistic pathogens. However, with a decrease in the body's immune defense against the background of severe general hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic pathology, a cold, or in the postoperative period, opportunistic bacilli begin to multiply rapidly, provoking the development of the disease.

Normally, infections such as streptococcus, E. coli or Neisseria can be found in the flora. This is considered a variant of the norm if their number does not exceed the permissible norm, and there are no clinical signs of an infectious disease.

It is worth noting that they should not be taken for destruction, since after the end of taking antibacterial agents, they again populate part of the microflora of the mucous membranes.

When a doctor prescribes a test, he expects results to confirm the presence or absence of certain pathogens that may have triggered the patient's symptoms.

The decoding of a throat swab includes the name of microorganisms, opposite which their number is indicated, which is expressed in special units. They began to be called CFU / ml, which indicates the number of bacterial pathogens growing in one liter of nutrient medium. CFU for short called a colony forming unit.

If the analysis showed the content of microbes ten to the fourth degree, this refers to the variant of the norm. When the result exceeds this level, for example, is ten to the fifth power, then the intensive growth of microbes is confirmed. An imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is dysbacteriosis, which leads to the development of the disease.

If the analysis showed a "confluent growth" of microorganisms, it is worth suspecting a large number of bacilli that form colonies when confluent. The results of bakposev also indicated the antibiogram. It lists antibacterial agents in the form of a tablet. There is a “+” sign next to each antibiotic:

  • one "+" indicates a low level of sensitivity of the pathogenic microbe in relation to this type of antibacterial agent;
  • two "+" indicates an average level;
  • 3 "+" - high sensitivity.

If the pathogen does not have sensitivity to a particular antibiotic, then a “tick” is placed opposite. This means that the choice of this antibacterial drug is not appropriate, since the therapeutic effect of its use will not be observed.

The analysis, or rather its results, are recorded on a special form. The type of microorganisms is indicated in Latin letters:

  • a negative result is considered when a swab from the throat does not have a fungal and bacterial flora. In this case, the doctor should suspect a viral infectious pathology.
  • a positive response indicates the presence of growth of pathogenic / opportunistic microbes that can cause an infectious and inflammatory process in the oropharynx, nasopharynx. When there is an increase in the fungal flora, candidiasis develops in the oral cavity.

We emphasize that normally the microflora can consist of fungi, Klebsiella pneumonia, diphtheus, bacteroids, actinomycetes, pseudomonads, non-pathogenic Neisseria, Escherichia coli, strepto-, meningococci, as well as epidermal staphylococcus.

As for pathogens, it is worth highlighting listeria, meningo-, pneumococcus, Leffler's bacilli, hemolytic streptococcus, branhamella, hemophilic bacillus, bordetella, staphylococcus aureus, as well as fungi.

A swab from the throat gives an idea of ​​the presence of pathogenic microbes that could cause the development of the disease. Based on the results of the study, the doctor determines which treatment will be most effective in this case.

- a quick and painless procedure that provides significant assistance in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

A throat swab is considered a common diagnostic test that is performed when inflammation and infections appear. Thanks to the procedure, it is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease. Also, the material helps to exclude diphtheria and other dangerous pathologies.

Throat swab - what is it

A throat swab is performed to determine the dominant microorganisms in this area. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to determine the presence, types and number of microbes located in the study area. This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and choose an adequate treatment.

Indications

This study is performed in such situations:

  1. Preventive screening at the time of hiring. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, the sick, etc.
  2. Examination of pregnant women. This helps to prevent the development and activity of bacteria that are dangerous to the baby.
  3. Examination of children who are going to enter preschool institutions. This helps to prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups.
  4. Diagnosis before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that can aggravate the course of the postoperative period.
  5. Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent further spread of the disease.
  6. A study to accurately determine the causative agent of ENT pathologies. The procedure also helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs.
  7. Identification, diphtheria, scarlet fever, sinusitis, and other pathologies.

Summarizing the information, we can conclude that a smear for the study of flora is required in 2 cases - to determine the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms and to detect the causative agent of a particular disease.

Why take a smear on the flora, says the doctor:

What tests are given, what can be determined

To take a swab from the throat, the specialist asks the person to open their mouth and tilt their head slightly. Then he gently presses the tongue with a flat instrument. After that, a sterile swab is carried out through the mucous membranes of the tonsils and throat.

The procedure does not cause pain, but it can cause discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a swab often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting the mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms before performing studies that help to establish their variety.

In the future, mucus particles are sent for special studies. One of the main methods is considered a rapid antigenic hemotest. This system reacts quickly to certain types of microbial particles.

This test helps detect category A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The results of this test can be obtained in 5-40 minutes. Generally, antigen tests are highly sensitive.

Sowing involves placing particles of mucus from the throat in a special environment that leads to the active reproduction of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms that inhabit the mucosa. This allows you to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to. This is especially important if standard therapy fails.

PCR analysis helps to identify the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is carried out by the DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a swab from the throat

How to prepare

In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before submitting an analysis, you must:

  1. Refuse to use mouth rinses, which include antiseptic ingredients, 2-3 days before the procedure.
  2. Exclude the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances a few days before the procedure.
  3. Avoid eating or drinking 2-3 hours before the test. It is best to take an analysis on an empty stomach.
  4. On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or chew gum for at least a few hours before the examination.

Quite often they help to cope with anaerobic bacteria. The composition of medical fees should include components such as mint, wild rose, hawthorn. This method of therapy is considered absolutely safe. The first results are achieved within a few days. However, the total duration of therapy should be at least 3 weeks.

How not to infect others

To prevent infection of others, you need to follow these recommendations:

  • wash your hands more often;
  • use personal hygiene products and utensils;
  • disinfect the house - wipe door handles, switches, etc.

A throat swab can be considered an informative study that helps to identify pathogenic microorganisms and determine their sensitivity to drugs. At the same time, it is very important to carefully prepare for the procedure in order to obtain objective results.

A swab from the throat for microflora is carried out quite often, because it gives the doctor the necessary information about the patient's health status. This analysis is mistakenly confused with smears in gynecology. Although the task of the analysis is to determine bacterial microorganisms on the mucous membrane, they take it from the throat. They do an analysis, as a rule, on the eve of the appointment of antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic agents. This is necessary to assess the susceptibility of the pathogen strain to a particular drug.

If you are taking the test for the first time, you can not worry, nothing that can cause discomfort or pain will happen to you during the diagnostic process. Bakposev from the pharynx does not take much time and is completely painless. The doctor takes a smear on the flora from the pharynx using a wooden stick, on which a cotton swab is wound. The patient opens his mouth, and the medical officer visually examines the oral cavity for visible foci of inflammation - redness and rashes. Further, holding the tongue with a flat stick, he takes a smear from the back wall of the pharynx. In some people, a stick held on the tongue can cause a gag reflex, but it quickly comes back when the root of the tongue stops irritating the instrument.

There is an alternative way to take the test - the patient is asked to gargle with saline, and then spit it into a sterile container. In this case, the medical staff receives a larger amount of biomaterial, which allows them to conduct tests and more accurately determine the causative agent of the disease.

This analysis does not require special preparation, it is enough for the patient not to smoke or suck on lollipops for two hours before taking a smear. Having removed the biomaterial, the bacillus is placed in a nutrient medium, where, after the formation of a colony, the laboratory assistant can detect various types of cocci, diphtheria bacilli, yeast-like fungi and other representatives of the microfauna.

The main medium for throat microbes is blood agar. This medium contains nutrients for the active reproduction of saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria, for example, pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus.

Sabouraud's medium is suitable for a wide range of microbes and is considered to be versatile. Yolk-salt agar is an elective medium for the mass cultivation of staphylococci. Chocolate agar is excellent for the reproduction of gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and pathogens of purulent bacterial meningitis. Endo medium is suitable for culturing Enterobacteriaceae. Enterococcus agar allows the development of a colony of enterococci.

It will take longer than usual tests, about 5-7 days, to wait for the results on the sowing tank from the throat. Sowing from the pharynx for microflora requires more time, since a series of tests must be carried out to determine the sensitivity of the inherent bacteria to antibiotics, and to choose the best of the drugs.

A swab from the throat for microflora, like any analysis, has a number of indications for carrying out, among them such diseases as:

  • diphtheria;
  • suspicion of Staphylococcus aureus;
  • meningococcal infection;
  • whooping cough;
  • mononucleosis;
  • scarlet fever;
  • angina and other bacterial diseases.

Pain in this area, difficulty in swallowing, temperature fluctuations and a number of other characteristic symptoms can become an indication for a throat swab. Taking into account the simplicity and painlessness of the procedure for conducting a smear on the sowing tank, you can undergo it as a preventive measure to exclude pathological processes in the body.

A bacteriological study of this type is very important to carry out even as a preventive measure. Especially, it concerns the medical staff of the maternity ward. Staphylococcus aureus, for example, spreads by airborne droplets, its large number can pose a significant threat to the life of newborns.

Analysis results

Deciphering a smear from the pharynx is carried out by a qualified specialist. A normal result indicates that the test is negative, that is, no pathogenic organisms were found in the oral cavity that could provoke the disease. The patient is healthy if no pathogenic flora is found in the oral smear, which exceeds 10 * 3 - 10 * 4. An indicator of 10 * 5 or more indicates the intensive development of conditionally pathogenic flora. The result sheet indicates the bacterium that was detected. The form also indicates the quantitative composition of the pathogen.

Analysis of the flora from the pharynx can determine the development of pathogens such as:

  • Bacteroides can cause chronic sinusitis, otitis media, mouth infections, abscesses, and necrotizing pneumonia.
  • Branhamella causes sinusitis and respiratory infections.
  • Veillonella forms dental plaques, the causative agent of periodontal disease.
  • Candida albicans in small amounts does not cause disease, although an increase in its number provokes candidiasis.
  • Streptococcus mutans destroys the enamel of the teeth, leads to their deformation and loss.
  • Haemophilusinfluenza is one of the causative agents of influenza and epiglottitis.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes causes colds and respiratory problems.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, sinusitis, endocarditis, septic arthritis, primary peritonitis, cellulitis.
  • Neisseriameningitides causes meningitis and nezopharyngitis.
  • Corynebacteriadiphtheria is the causative agent of diphtheria.
  • Klebsiellapneumonia can cause pneumonia and urogenital infections.
  • Pseudomonas is found in purulent inflammatory processes, enteritis and cystitis.
  • Escherichia coli causes peritonitis, colpitis, prostatitis and dysbacteriosis.
  • Cytomegalovirus provokes sexually transmitted diseases, including oral contact.
  • Herpes simplex virus is the causative agent of herpes infections.
  • Epstein-Bar virus causes a lot of diseases of different localization, for example, hepatitis, herpes, leukoplakia, multiple sclerosis, immune deficiency, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphogranulomatosis and Steven-Jobs syndrome.

As can be seen from the above diseases, a throat swab is a very informative procedure that allows you to avoid the further development of the pathological process and eliminate the disease at an early stage of development. If a large number of certain bacteria are found in the tests, the doctor is likely to ask the patient's relatives or people in contact with the patient to undergo a tank test. This is necessary if the doctor suspects that the patient is constantly infected from someone from the environment.

Treatment of pathogenic flora

An otolaryngologist can prescribe an analysis. He will also select drugs for the treatment of a particular disease. How the treatment will take place directly depends on which microbe was identified:

  • Bacteroids and Veillonella are sensitive to imidazole derivatives: Metronidazole, Tinidazole and Ornidazole.
  • Epstein-Barlechat virus with Ganciclovir and Valaciclovir.
  • Escherichiacoli is treated with Gentamicin, Nifuratel, and Rifaximin.
  • Herpes simplex virus and Cytamegalovirus can be treated with Acyclovir, Valaciclovir, Famciclovir, and Penciclovir.
  • Pseudomonas is susceptible to Piperacillin, Impenem, Tobramycin and Ciprofloxacin.
  • Klebsiellapneumonia is sensitive to aminoglycosides and third-generation cephalosporins.
  • Neisseriameningitides is a deadly bacterium that is eliminated by a number of drugs, including Penicillin, Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Ceftriaxone.
  • Haemophilus influenza therapy consists in the use of Cefotaxime or Ceftriaxone.
  • Corynebacteriadiphtheria is eliminated with drugs called Cefotaxime, Anaerocef, Lincomycin.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes is susceptible to penicillins and cephalosporins.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is treated with Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Levofloxacin, and Josamycin.
  • Streptococcus mutans - Ampicillin, Augmentin, Benzylpenicillin, Vancomycin;
  • Branhamella is susceptible to tetracyclines as well as cephalosporins.
  • Candida albicans is eliminated with fluconazole and itraconazole.

All of the above drugs cannot be prescribed to yourself on your own, most of them have toxic substances in their composition, which can negatively affect your well-being and worsen the situation even more. After the patient undergoes a course of therapy, he is re-analyzed for a culture tank from the pharynx, so that the doctor understands whether the treatment with the selected drugs has helped, or whether it is worth adjusting the therapy regimen.

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