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Test Code LAB231 Environmental Culture

Performing Lab

Arnot Ogden Medical Center

Ordering Recommendations

Semi-quantitative detection and identification of bacterial agents of line/catheter infections.

This procedure is also utilized for bacterial culturing of other environmental items of concern, including, but not limited to, medical devices and equipment as well as reagent water utilized in the laboratory.

Collect

Catheter Tip

*Identify on specimen what type of catheter/line is being submitted.

  • Other environmental items of concern
    • Other sample types may be processed using this procedure with approval from the Laboratory Medical Director, Infection Prevention and the Chief Medical Officer.

Unacceptable specimens include:

  1. Foley catheter tips
    1. Growth represents distal urethral flora. Not acceptable for culture.
  2. Specimens that do not meet the laboratory labeling policy.
  3. Dried specimens (due to prolonged transport time).
  • Other environmental items of concern
    • Other sample types may be processed using this procedure with approval from the Laboratory Medical Director, Infection Prevention and the Chief Medical Officer.

Collection Device

Sterile Container

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Specimens should be transported to the lab ASAP. Transport delays should be avoided to prevent drying.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room Temperature

Methodology

Conventional Culture

Start Date

9/13/2017

Last Review Date

06/15/2026

Specimen Handling

Room Temperature

Unacceptable Conditions

Foley Catheter Tips: growth represents distal urethral flora.

Collection Instructions

  1. Before removal of the catheter, cleanse the skin around the insertion site with 70% alcohol to reduce contaminating skin flora and remove any residual antimicrobial ointment.
  2. Aseptically remove the catheter and clip a section of the distal portion directly into a sterile container.
  3. A segment of the proximal catheter tip may also be clipped and submitted in a separate container with a separate order if desired.  Indicate on specimen container distal or proximal.

Remarks

  • Gram stain is not performed for this test.
  • Susceptibility testing will be performed for significant isolates.
  • Fastidious organisms may not be detected by this method.

Interpretation

Catheter tip cultures yielding organisms present at greater than 15 colony forming units are considered to be significant, indicating catheter-related infection.

Other environmental collections of concern must be interpreted on a case by case basis. An environmental surface sample that shows no growth does not represent a "sterile" surface. Sensitivities of sampling/assay methods must be taken into consideration when no growth samples are encountered.