Anaerobic and Aerobic Culture and Gram Stain

CPT: 87070; 87075; 87205
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Synonyms

  • Anaerobic Culture, Abscess
  • Anaerobic Culture, Body Fluid
  • Anaerobic Culture, Wound
  • Culture, Anaerobic
  • Wound Anaerobic Culture

Test Includes

Gram stain, isolation, and identification of potential anaerobic and aerobic pathogens (additional charges/CPT code[s] may apply); susceptibility testing if culture results warrant (at an additional charge). CPT coding for microbiology and virology procedures often cannot be determined before the culture is performed.


Special Instructions

The test request form must state specific site of specimen, age of patient, current antibiotic therapy, clinical diagnosis, and time of collection. If an unusual organism is suspected, such as Actinomyces, this information must be specifically noted on the test request form. For extended incubation use Aerobic Culture, Extended Incubation [180803] or Anaerobic Culture, Extended Incubation [008900]. Aspirations are preferable to swabs. A thin smear for Gram stain prepared at the time of specimen collection may better represent the flora present than one prepared in the laboratory several hours after specimen collection. Culture samples must be collected to avoid contamination with indigenous anaerobic flora from skin and mucous membranes. Because of resident anaerobic flora, the following sites are inappropriate for anaerobic cultures and will be rejected: throat and nasopharynx, sputum, bronchoscopy specimens, gastrointestinal contents, voided or catheterized urine, urogenital swabs (eg, vaginal and/or cervical), and specimens from superficial wounds.


Expected Turnaround Time

4 - 7 days


Related Documents

For more information, please view the literature below.

Microbiology Specimen Collection and Transport Guide


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Pus, tissue, or other material properly obtained from an abscess, biopsy, aspirate, drainage, exudate, lesion, or wound. To ensure proper growth of organisms place swabs/specimen in anaerobic transporter. Do not refrigerate.


Volume

Swab(s) in aerobic/anaerobic swab transport or ESwab™ transport; or 0.5 mL pus, other fluid, or tissue from aspirated site in anaerobic transporter and one thin smear


Container

Aerobic/anaerobic bacterial swab transport containing gel medium or anaerobic transporter and one prepared smear in slide carrier; ESwab™ transport


Collection

Some anaerobes will be killed by contact with molecular oxygen for only a few seconds. Overlying and adjacent areas must be carefully disinfected to eliminate contamination with indigenous flora. Ideally, pus or other fluid obtained by needle aspiration through intact skin or mucosal surface that has been cleaned with antiseptic should be collected. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile plastic catheter. Curettings of the base of an open lesion are optimal. If irrigation is necessary, nonbacteriostatic sterile normal saline may be used. Lower respiratory samples must be obtained by transtracheal percutaneous needle aspiration, transbronchial biopsy, transthoracic needle biopsy, or open lung biopsy by physicians trained in these procedures. If swabs must be used, collect two, use one for Gram stain and one for culture. Anaerobic transports must be used for swabs and for aspirates. Specimens are to be collected from a prepared site using sterile technique. Contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum, vaginal tract, or other body surfaces must be avoided.


Storage Instructions

Specimens for anaerobic culture should be maintained at room temperature. Under these conditions, aerobes and anaerobes will survive 24 to 72 hours when properly collected in the anaerobic transport tube. Storage of specimens in the ESwab™ transport at room temperature for greater than 48 hours may result in diminished recovery of certain anaerobic species.


Patient Preparation

Sterile preparation of the aspiration site is imperative.


Causes for Rejection

Unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and test request label; specimen not received in appropriate anaerobic transport tube; swab not in gel transport medium or ESwab™ transport; swab not stored in oxygen-free atmosphere; specimen refrigerated; specimen received after prolonged delay in transport (usually more than 72 hours). Note: Refrigeration inhibits viability of certain anaerobic organisms. Specimens from sites that have anaerobic bacteria as indigenous flora will not be cultured anaerobically (eg, throat, feces, colostomy stoma, rectal swabs, bronchial washes, cervical-vaginal mucosal swabs, sputa, skin and superficial wounds, voided or catheterized urine, ulcer surfaces, drainages onto contaminated surfaces).


Test Details


Use

Isolate and identify anaerobic pathogenic organisms; determine susceptibility of isolates (extra charge). When actinomycetes are suspected a specific request must be made. Anaerobic cultures are indicated particularly when suspected infections are related to gastrointestinal tract, pelvic organs, associated with malignancy, related to use of aminoglycosides; or occur in a setting in which the diagnosis of gas gangrene or actinomycosis is considered. Anaerobic culture is especially indicated when an exudate has a foul odor or if the exudate has a grayish discoloration and is hemorrhagic. Frequently, more than one organism is recovered from an anaerobic infection.


Limitations

The only sources for specimens with established validity for meaningful anaerobic culture in patients with pleuropulmonary infections are blood, pleural fluid, transtracheal aspirates, transthoracic pulmonary aspirates, and specimens obtained at thoracotomy. Pleural fluid is preferred for patients with empyema.1 Blood cultures yield positive results in <5% of cases of anaerobic pulmonary infection. Specimens received in anaerobic transport containers are not optimal for aerobic fungus cultures. Mycobacterium sp or Nocardia sp, which may cause abscesses, will not be recovered even if present, since extended incubation periods, aerobic incubation, and special media are necessary for their isolation. Cultures for these organisms should be specifically requested.

IUDs will be cultured for Actinomyces sp only.


Methodology

Anaerobic and aerobic culture and Gram stain smear


Contraindications

Bronchoscopically obtained specimens are not ideal as the instrument becomes contaminated by organisms normally contaminating the oropharynx during insertion. Culture of specimens from sites harboring endogenous anaerobic organisms or contaminated by endogenous organisms may be misleading with regard to etiology and selection of appropriate therapy.

Additional Information

In open wounds, anaerobic organisms may play an etiologic role, whereas aerobes may represent superficial contamination. Serious anaerobic infections are often due to mixed flora that are pathologic synergists. Anaerobes frequently recovered from closed postoperative wound infections include Bacteroides fragilis, approximately 50%; Prevotella melaninogenica, approximately 25%; Peptostreptococcus prevotii, approximately 15%; and Fusobacterium sp, approximately 25%. Anaerobes are seldom recovered in pure culture (10% to 15% of cultures). Aerobes and facultative bacteria when present are frequently found in lesser numbers than the anaerobes. Anaerobic infection is most commonly associated with operations involving opening or manipulating the bowel or a hollow viscus (eg, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, gastrectomy, bile duct exploration, etc). The ratio of anaerobes to facultative species is normally about 10:1 in the mouth, vagina, and sebaceous glands and at least 1000:1 in the colon. Biopsy culture is particularly useful in establishing the diagnosis of anaerobic osteomyelitis,2 clostridial myonecrosis, intracranial actinomycosis, and pleuropulmonary infections. Anaerobic infections of soft tissue include anaerobic cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene), anaerobic streptococcal myositis or myonecrosis, synergistic nonclostridial anaerobic myonecrosis, and infected vascular gangrene. These infections, particularly clostridial myonecrosis, necrotizing fasciitis, and nonclostridial anaerobic myonecrosis, may be fulminant and are frequently characterized by the presence of gas and foul-smelling necrotic tissue.3 Empiric therapy based on likely pathogens should be instituted as soon as appropriate cultures are collected.

Clinical symptoms suggestive of anaerobic infection include:

• Foul-smelling discharge

• Location of infection in proximity to a mucosal surface

• Necrotic tissue, gangrene, pseudomembrane formation

• Gas in tissues or discharges

• Endocarditis with negative routine blood cultures

• Infection associated with malignancy or other process producing tissue destruction

• Septic thrombophlebitis

• Bacteremic picture with jaundice

• Infection resulting from human or other bites

• Black discoloration of blood-containing exudates (may fluoresce red under ultraviolet light in P melaninogenica infections)

• Presence of “sulfur granules” in discharges (actinomycosis)

• Classical clinical features of gas gangrene

• Clinical setting suggestive for anaerobic infection (septic abortion, infection after gastrointestinal surgery, genitourinary surgery, etc)

See table.

Principle Types of Anaerobic Infections

Location

Type of Infection

Adapted from Styrt B, Gorbach SL. Recent developments in the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of anaerobic infections. N Engl J Med. 1989 Jul 24; 321(4):240-246.

Head and neck

Brain abscess

Gingivitis

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic otitis

Odontogenic and oropharyngeal space infections

Respiratory tract

Aspiration pneumonia

Necrotizing pneumonia

Lung abscess

Empyema (adults)

Gastrointestinal tract

Peritonitis

Intra-abdominal abscess

Liver abscess

Female genital tract

Tubo-ovarian abscess

Salpingitis (30% to 50% of cases)

Septic abortion and endometritis

Bartholin gland abscess

Bacterial vaginosis

Skin and soft tissue

Crepitant cellulitis

Necrotizing fasciitis

Myonecrosis (gas gangrene)

Decubitus ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer

Bite wounds


Footnotes

1. Bartlett JG. Anaerobic bacterial infections of the lung. Chest. 1987 Jun; 91(6):901-909. 3556058
2. Hall BB, Fitzgerald RH Jr, Rosenblatt JE. Anaerobic osteomyelitis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1983 Jan; 65(1):30-35. 6848532
3. Finegold SM, George LW, Mulligan ME. Anaerobic infections. Part II. Dis Mon. 1985 Nov; 31(11):1-97. 3914407

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
183111 Anaerobic/Aerobic/Gram Stain 008004 Anaerobic Culture 635-3
183111 Anaerobic/Aerobic/Gram Stain 008005 Aerobic Culture 634-6
183111 Anaerobic/Aerobic/Gram Stain 183112 Gram Stain Result 664-3
Reflex Table for Anaerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080550 Result 080551 Result 1 6463-4
Reflex Table for Anaerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080550 Result 080552 Result 2 6463-4
Reflex Table for Anaerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080550 Result 080553 Result 3 6463-4
Reflex Table for Anaerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080550 Result 080554 Result 4 6463-4
Reflex Table for Anaerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080550 Result 080555 Antimicrobial Susceptibility 23658-8
Reflex Table for Aerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080290 Result 080292 Result 1 6463-4
Reflex Table for Aerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080290 Result 080293 Result 2 6463-4
Reflex Table for Aerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080290 Result 080294 Result 3 6463-4
Reflex Table for Aerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080290 Result 080295 Result 4 6463-4
Reflex Table for Aerobic Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080290 Result 080296 Antimicrobial Susceptibility 23658-8
Reflex Table for Gram Stain Result
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080583 Result 080584 Result 1 6463-4
Reflex Table for Gram Stain Result
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080583 Result 080585 Result 2 6463-4
Reflex Table for Gram Stain Result
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080583 Result 080586 Result 3 6463-4
Reflex Table for Gram Stain Result
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080583 Result 080587 Result 4 6463-4
Reflex Table for Gram Stain Result
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080583 Result 080588 Antimicrobial Susceptibility 23658-8

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