It is a test to identify bacteria and fungi suspected for their presency in blood. Blood is sterile- under normal condutions, free of bacteria and fungi. If there is a suspected infection in blood it is called sepsis. If there is a bacterial infection in the blood, it is called bacteraemia, and if there are fungi, it is called fungaemia. Bacteria and fungi that may be isolated in the blood are usually; Staphylococcus aereus, Escheriscia Coli, Enterobactericeae species, Enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida Albicans.
Interpretation:Once this test has been performed and growth has been obtained, the antibiotic resistance or susceptibility of these bacteria is investigated so that the doctor can quickly treat the infection with the target sensitive antibiotic. The test is performed in two steps. Two different media types are used to detect bacteria. One for the bacteria that need oxygen to survive (aerobes) and another for the bacteria that do not need oxygen to survive (anaerobes). This is called a culture set (another third medium is a flask containing a special medium for bacteria that cannot grow in blood). This forms a set of three bottles. The bottles are kept at body temperature for a few days. If growth occurs, a series of staining procedures are used to identify them. When the bacteria enters the bloodstream through simple abrasions, the body can fight them with its own defence systems. However, if they enter the bloodstream through cellulitis, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections (pneumonia), this can lead to longer-lasting infections and exceeds the body’s defense power. Fungemia, on the other hand, can be more damaging in cases of a weak immune system. If both are left untreated, the rapid stimulation of the immune response can lead to the fatal, life-threatening condition called sepsis.
Sample: Arm venous blood samples for different flasks of culture mediums.
Working day: Everyday
Result Time: 7 days at 6 PM
