Guidelines
Wound Cultures

Wound Cultures

Recommendations

Cleanse and debride wound before obtaining specimen for culture

Aspirate purulent secretions using a sterile needle and syringe

Promptly send specimen in sterile container or appropriate transport media for aerobic/anaerobic culture and Gram stain

Do not culture uninfected wounds

Do NOT obtain a specimen without first cleansing or debriding the wound

Do not obtain a specimen by swabbing the wound or wound drainage