Specimen to Submit for Microbiologic Analysis based on Suspected Infection

Question 1

Bacterial meningitis or suspected ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection

Answer 1

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Catheter tip of VP shunt

Question 2

Viral encephalitis

Answer 2

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 3

Endocarditis

Prosthetic valve endocarditis

Answer 3

Blood cultures

Heart valve tissue

Question 4

Pericarditis

Answer 4

Pericardial fluid

Question 5

Osteomyelitis

Answer 5

Bone biopsy

Question 6

Septic arthritis

Prosthetic joint infection

Answer 6

Synovial fluid obtained by bedside arthrocentesis or surgery

Question 7

Cellulitis

Answer 7

Aspiration of leading edge of infection (rarely done)

Question 8

Pneumonia

Answer 8

Sputum obtained by expetoration, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), or tracheal aspiration

Question 9

Lung emphyema

Answer 9

Pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis

Pleural tissue from surgery

Question 10

Urinary tract infection

Answer 10

Urine obtained by midstream clean-catch, straight catheter, foley catheter, or suprapubic aspiration

Question 11

Pyelonephritis

Answer 11

Urine obtained by midstream clean-catch, straight catheter, foley catheter, or suprapubic aspiration AND blood cultures

Question 12

Prostatitis

Answer 12

Prostatic secretions

Question 13

Sexually-transmitted disease

Answer 13

Genital tract secretions, urethral swab, urine

Question 14

Any type of abscess

Answer 14

Aspiration of pus from teh abscess

Question 15

Peritonitis

Answer 15

Peritoneal fluid obtained by paracentesis

Question 16

Infection diarrhea

Answer 16

Stool sample for WBC analysis and culture

Question 17

Bloodstream infection related to intravenous line

Answer 17

Blood cultures, catheter tip

Question 18

Cholecystitis

Answer 18

Bile