Microbiology subdivision

Question 1

Microbiology (also referred to as Bacteriology) performs many different types of tests on various types of specimens such as….

Answer 1

blood
urine 
stool
swabs 
sputum

Question 2

the nurse, physician and lab are all able to collect specimens… Which can each collect and where does the req go?

Answer 2

NURSE- stool, urine, swab, sputum

• the req and specimen labels are kept at the nursing station until specimen has been collected
• once specimen has been collected, NUC ensures the label is put on as well as the date/time filled out on the req and everything is sent to the lab together

PHYSICIAN- CSF and bronchial washings

• s/he will bring specimen to the NUC and request a req be completed
• specimen & req sent to lab together

LAB- venous blood sample

• req done prior to blood collection
• NUC must make a label for these specimens

Question 3

blood cultures are usually ordered when the physician suspects the patient has what?

Answer 3

septicemia /bacteremia

Question 4

how many specimens are collected for blood cultures?

how many labels need to be made?

Answer 4

• the lab collects 2 specimens

- 4 labels in total (the lab takes 2 containers of blood for each specimen)

Question 5

what should be done as soon as blood culture specimens have been drawn?

Answer 5

the NUC informs the nurse the samples have been drawn so s/he can immediately administer IV antibiotics

Question 6

if repeat blood cultures are ordered days later, what must the NUC put on the req?

Answer 6

any antibiotics that the patient is receiving