Swabs

Question 1

Introductions

Answer 1

Introduce yourself
Confirm name and DOB
Explain what you’d like to do and gain consent

Question 2

What steps would you take for a wound swab?

Answer 2

With washed and gloved hands, remove existing dressings
Remove gloves and disinfect hands

Open sterile dressing pack, drops sterile gloves into sterile field, don sterile gloves

If pus present, send sample of pus with a sterile syringe, sterile specimen pot.
If slough present, use saline/sterile water and gauze to gently remove it
If wound is dry, moisten with saline/sterile water

Gently rotate swab over 1cm3 section of viable tissue in middle of wound, apply enough pressure to express fluid

Question 3

What steps would you take for a nasal swab

Answer 3

If nostrils dry, moisten with sterile water/saline
Gently direct swab upward into anterior nares and rotate slowly
Repeat with other nostril with same swab

Question 4

What steps would you take for a throat swab

Answer 4

Gently, quickly rotate swab over tonsils and post pharynx
If pus, exudate, inflammation present => swab it
Carefully remove swab, without touching any other part of the mouth/tongue

Question 5

What steps would you take for an ulcer swab

Answer 5

Clean surface with saline/sterile water to remove colonising bacteria
Gently rotate swab over affected area

Question 6

How would you do a skin swab

Answer 6

Gently rotate swab over affected area

Question 7

What would you do after you’ve swabbed the area

Answer 7

Prevent contamination by only touching swab to tissue being tested
Removes cap from tube, fully immerse swab in transport medium
Secure lid

Document anatomical site of wound on swab tube, request form
Document clinical details including past medical history of DM, IC
Organise prompt delivery to lab
Documents procedure in records