THROAT SWAB
The specimen is collected from the patients with upper respiratory tract infection. The upper respiratory tract can be the site of several types of infection
Purpose
- To detect the causative microorganism
- To diagnose the disease condition
- To detect the correct antibiotics for effective treatment
Indications
- Pharyngitis sometimes involving tonsillitis and giving rise to a “sore throat”
- Nasopharyngitis
- Otitis media
- Sinusitis
- Epiglottis
General Instructions
- Pharyngitis is by far the most frequent one most cases of pharyngitis have a viral etiology and follow a self-limiting course
- Approximately 20% are caused by bacteria and usually require treatment with appropriate antibiotics
- Specimen should be collect by a physician or other trained personnel
- Swab can be collected after asking the patient to gargle with sterile saline
Preliminary Assessment
Check
- The doctors order for any specific instructions
- General condition and diagnosis
- Mental status to follow instructions
- Self-care ability of the patient
- Articles available in the unit
Preparation of the Patient and Environment
- Explain the procedure to the patient
- Arrange the articles at the bedside
- Provide privacy if needed
- Obtain laboratory request and specimen container
- Place the patient comfortably in sitting or semi-sitting position
Equipment
- Sterile or clean gloves
- Specimen container
- Gauze pieces
- Paper bag and K-basin
- Torch light (if needed)
- Tongue depressor
Procedure
- The patient should sit in from of a light source
- Tongue should be kept down with a tongue depressor and a cotton wool swab is rubber vigorously over each tonsil, over the back wall of the pharynx and over any other inflamed area
- Care should be taken not to touch the tongue or buccal surfaces
- It is preferable to take 2 swabs from the same area
- One can be used to prepare a smear, while the other is placed into glass or plastic sterile container
After Care
- Label and send the container immediately to the laboratory
- Discard the disposable items used
- Replace the articles after cleaning
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Record the procedure in the nurse’s record sheet
