Culture & Sensitivity –Rectal:
Why Culture and Sensitivity – Rectal Specimen Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Rectal culture and sensitivity test is performed if the physician suspects an infection (caused mostly by an enteric bacterial pathogen or any infective agent eg. fungi etc) in the rectum of the patient. This rectal swab test is an alternative test for a fecal/stool culture test or in cases it is not feasible to collect specimens of feces etc. The rectal swab is smeared in appropriate culture media to conform to any growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the rectum causing gastrointestinal symptoms (gastero-enteritis) and/or disease. Usually, the digestive tract contains normal flora (microbes) that plays a vital role in the digestion of food and also check on the growth of the disease-causing pathogen. But when the balance of the normal flora is altered by the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, it inhibits the growth of normal flora and allows the growth of opportunistic pathogens like bacteria (Clostridium difficile) and/or the patient may generate some newly evolved strains among opportunistic enteric pathogens within the human body that become resistant to antibiotics and thus occupy large areas in GIT forming abnormal colonies causing such rare clinical manifestations in certain patients. Risk factors for gastro-enteritis-related diseases include consuming contaminated water or food, raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or beef, unpasteurized milk, weakened immune system, and/or immuno-compromised patients with immunosuppressive medication, etc. This Culture and Sensitivity test in rectal swab specimen is performed as a screening test for diagnosis in patients suspected of food poisoning, stomach flu, prolonged diarrhea, mucus in stool, bloody stools, abdominal pain and cramps, nausea, and/or vomiting that is severe or lasts more than few days and also for prognosis eg. cases with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection. Common intestinal disease-causing microbes include Camylobacter species, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibro species, etc. Complications of neglected cases may lead to proctitis, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance and conditions such as hemolytic uremic syndrome -characterized by destruction of RBCs and kidney failure that arise from the toxin-producing strain of Eschericha coli bacteria, and also arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome (as a complication due to Camylobacter species). Mostly this test is specifically indicated as a diagnostic test in the conformation of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection, Gonorrheal infection of the rectum (Females). Clinical manifestations for this rectal swab test is indicated with signs and symptoms including a frequent or continuous feeling of bowel movement, rectal bleeding, passing mucus through the rectum, pain in the rectum, pain in the left side of the abdomen, feeling of fullness in the rectum, pain with bowel movements, etc. Other tests for differential diagnosis (to rule out other similar manifestations) include speculum examination of rectum - colonoscope/ rectoscope/ proctoscope (for diagnostic use eg. in colorectal polyps or specimen collection in colorectal cancers for histo-pathology), detection of toxins (eg, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, etc), ova and parasite exam, antigen tests, PCR, colorectal cancer and polyps, etc, to help establish a definitive diagnosis.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen – Rectal swab. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
Sample Requirement: Specimen from the rectum (Rectal Swab)
Test Preparation: None
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
