Culture of the nasopharynx for microflora. A swab from the throat and nose for microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics - how and why they do it. What kind of treatment is needed to eliminate pathogens from the nose or throat?

A throat swab gives an idea of the composition of the microflora of the oropharynx. The doctor, having assessed the quantitative composition of microbes, can confirm the infectious origin of the disease. Culture indicates not only the type of microorganisms, but also allows you to determine the antibiogram. Based on the results of the tank study, he prescribes antibacterial drugs that will be most effective in this case.

Why is smear diagnostics performed?

confirmation of the infectious origin of tonsillitis, sinusitis, meningitis, whooping cough and other diseases;
search for Staphylococcus aureus, which causes purulent lesions of the skin (furunculosis, pyoderma);
to exclude diphtheria in the absence of Loeffler's bacillus in smears;
for the diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, as well as mononucleosis.

For preventive purposes, taking a throat smear is indicated:

people who have had contact with a sick person to determine bacterial carriage;
when finding employment in the food industry, in medical and children's institutions;
children before visiting educational institutions, sports activities, swimming pools to prevent epidemics;
before hospitalization, in the preoperative period.

Pregnant women are required to undergo research to determine the risk of developing an infectious disease, as well as the occurrence of complications in the fetus.

5 days before the examination, it is prohibited to take antibacterial drugs, which will allow the proliferation of pathogenic microbes to resume;
3 days before the diagnosis, the use of rinsing solutions, as well as sprays with an antiseptic effect, will be discontinued. They reduce the number of pathogenic microbes, which makes diagnosis difficult;
a throat swab is performed on an empty stomach;
Before the study, chewing gum and drinks are prohibited, and brushing your teeth is undesirable.

Material collection process

You can make the process of taking a swab from the throat easier by following a certain algorithm of actions. The patient needs to tilt his head back slightly and open his mouth as much as possible to show the specialist the posterior pharyngeal wall.

The tongue is fixed with a spatula to the bottom of the mouth. A throat swab is taken with a sterile swab located at the end of an elongated loop. Take a smear carefully, without touching the swab to other surfaces of the oral cavity.

The collected material with a swab is placed in a test tube, after which it is transported to the laboratory within the first 90 minutes. The algorithm must be followed to obtain reliable research results.

When passing a sterile swab along the surface of the posterior pharyngeal wall, the patient may experience gagging, especially with a pronounced gag reflex.

Microscopy and culture

Microscopic examination is carried out before bacterial culture to determine the cellular composition in order to predict which colonies can grow on the nutrient medium.

Microscopy is performed by Gram staining, after which the cells are visualized under a microscope. Sowing is done on a specific medium, since each type of microorganism requires pH and humidity levels.

Sowing on flora ensures the growth of colonies, based on the shape and shade of which the type of microorganisms is established. The main task of culture media is to ensure respiration and nutrition of microbes for rapid growth and reproduction.

The material is sown in sterile laboratory conditions in compliance with aseptic rules. Medical staff should not forget about protective equipment, since biological material can be extremely dangerous in terms of infection.

The culture results are assessed daily, but final conclusions are made a week later by analyzing the color, shape and other characteristics of the colonies.

Particular attention is paid to the antibiogram, which is performed by covering an area of grown colonies with circles soaked in an antibacterial agent. If pathogenic microbes are sensitive to a particular antibiotic, colony growth is inhibited. In cases where colonies grow under antibacterial action, the drug is considered ineffective. Based on these results, the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy to help cope with the disease.

Diagnostic results

What does a smear show? The flora of the mucous membrane consists of various microorganisms. A throat smear for microflora shows the number of pathogenic as well as opportunistic microbes. In a small number of pathogenic bacteria, they do not cause the development of the disease, as do opportunistic bacteria. However, when the body’s immune defense decreases against the background of severe general hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic pathology, a cold, or in the postoperative period, opportunistic bacilli begin to multiply intensively, provoking the development of the disease.

Normally, infections such as streptococcus, E. coli or Neisseria can be part of the flora. This is considered a variant of the norm if their number does not exceed the permissible norm, and there are no clinical signs of an infectious disease.

It is worth noting that you should not undertake their destruction, since after the end of taking antibacterial agents they will again populate part of the microflora of the mucous membranes.

When a doctor orders a test, he expects results to confirm the presence or absence of certain pathogens that may have caused the patient's symptoms.

The decoding of a throat smear includes the name of microorganisms, opposite which their number is indicated, which is expressed in special units. They became known as CFU/ml, which indicates the number of bacterial pathogens growing in one liter of nutrient medium. CFU is abbreviated as colony forming unit.

If the analysis showed a microbial content of ten to the fourth power, this refers to the normal variant. When the result exceeds this level, for example, is ten to the fifth power, then intensive microbial growth is confirmed. An imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is dysbacteriosis, which leads to the development of disease.

If the analysis showed “confluent growth” of microorganisms, it is worth suspecting a large number of bacilli that form colonies when merging. The culture results also include an antibiogram. It lists antibacterial agents in the form of a plate. Next to each antibiotic there is a “+” sign:

one “+” indicates a low level of sensitivity of the pathogenic microbe to this type of antibacterial agent;
two “+” indicates an average level;
3 “+” - high sensitivity.

If a pathogenic microorganism is not sensitive to a particular antibiotic, then a “tick” is placed opposite it. This means that the choice of this antibacterial drug is not advisable, since a therapeutic effect from its use will not be observed.

The analysis, or rather its results, are recorded on a special form. The type of microorganisms is indicated in Latin letters:

the result is considered negative when the throat swab does not have fungal and bacterial flora. In this case, the doctor should suspect a viral infectious pathology.
a positive response indicates the presence of growth of pathogenic/opportunistic microbes that can cause an infectious-inflammatory process in the oropharynx and nasopharynx. When there is an increase in fungal flora, candidiasis develops in the oral cavity.

We emphasize that normally the microflora can consist of fungi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, diphthe-, bacteroides, actinomycetes, pseudomonads, non-pathogenic Neisseria, Escherichia coli, streptococci, meningococci, as well as epidermal staphylococcus.

As for pathogenic microorganisms, it is worth highlighting listeria, meningo-, pneumococcus, Loeffler's bacilli, hemolytic streptococcus, branchhamella, hemophilus influenzae, bordetella, Staphylococcus aureus, as well as fungi.

A throat swab gives an idea of the presence of pathogenic microbes that could cause the development of the disease. Based on the results of the study, the doctor determines which treatment will be most effective in this case.

Throat swab – a quick and painless procedure that provides significant assistance in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

A throat swab is considered a common diagnostic test that is performed when inflammation and infections occur. Thanks to the procedure, it is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease. The material also helps to exclude diphtheria and other dangerous pathologies.

Throat swab - what is it?

A throat swab is performed to determine the dominant microorganisms in the area. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to determine the presence, types and quantity of microbes located in the studied area. This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and select adequate treatment.

Indications

This study is performed in the following situations:

Preventive examination before hiring. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, the sick, etc.
Examination of pregnant women. This helps prevent the development and activity of bacteria that pose a danger to the baby.
Examination of children who are going to enter preschool institutions. This helps prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups.
Diagnosis before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that could aggravate the course of the postoperative period.
Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent the subsequent spread of the disease.
A study to accurately determine the causative agent of ENT pathologies. The procedure also helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs.
Detection of tonsillitis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media and other pathologies.

Summarizing the information, we can conclude that a smear for flora examination is required in 2 cases - to determine the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms and to detect the causative agent of a certain disease.

Why do they take a smear for flora, says the doctor:

What tests are taken, what can be determined

To take a throat swab, the specialist asks the person to open their mouth and tilt their head back slightly. He then gently presses the tongue with a flat tool. After which, a sterile swab is applied to the mucous membranes of the tonsils and throat.

The procedure does not cause pain, but may cause discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a tampon often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting the mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms until studies are carried out that help determine their type.

Subsequently, mucus particles are sent for special studies. One of the main methods is considered to be a rapid antigen hemotest. This system quickly responds to microbial particles of a certain type.

This test helps detect beta-hemolytic streptococcus category A. The results of this test can be obtained in 5-40 minutes. Typically, antigen tests have high sensitivity.

Sowing involves placing mucus particles from the throat in a special environment, which leads to the active proliferation of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms inhabiting the mucous membrane. This makes it possible to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to antibacterial agents. This is especially important if standard therapy does not produce results.

PCR analysis helps determine the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is done through DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a throat swab correctly

How to prepare

In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before taking the analysis you must:

Avoid using mouth rinses that contain antiseptic ingredients 2-3 days before the procedure.
Avoid the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances several days before the procedure.
Avoid consuming food or drinks 2-3 hours before the test. It is best to take the test on an empty stomach.
On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or at least several hours before the examination not to chew gum.

Solutions for

rinsing

throat medications

and nose eliminate most of the microorganisms that are on the mucous membranes. As a result, the analysis will give unreliable results.

After eating or using toothpaste, some of the bacterial microorganisms are washed off, which also negatively affects the result.

Decoding

To evaluate the data obtained as a result of the analysis, you need to know the reasons for its implementation. Most often, the mixed microflora that is present in the smear of healthy people includes a small number of harmful microorganisms - streptococci, staphylococci, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes, veillonella, enterococci, etc.

This phenomenon is considered normal if there are few harmful bacteria and they do not cause harm to health. It is not possible to eliminate all microorganisms. A short time after completion of the course of therapy, bacteria reappear on the mucous membrane.

The interpretation of the results depends on the reason for the study. Particular attention is paid to the number of microorganisms that could provoke an illness that worries a person. If the volume of bacteria is no more than 10 to the third or fourth power, the microflora is normal. If the indicator is more than 10 to the fifth power, one can judge the increased development of opportunistic microorganisms.

How to identify streptococcus in the throat

What indicators are the most dangerous?

Harmful microorganisms that can be identified by performing a throat swab include the following:

beta-hemolytic streptococcus, part of group A;
causative agent of diphtheria;
fungi;
causative agent of whooping cough.

Most pathologies of the ENT organs are caused by increased activity of streptococci. It is these microorganisms that are identified when tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or pneumonia are suspected. In order to exclude

allergic factor

During the study, the level of leukocytes and eosinophils is determined.

How to distinguish the herpes virus from a streptococcal infection, says Dr. Komarovsky:

Features of treatment to eliminate pathogenic microflora

After identifying the causative agent of the disease, its sensitivity to antibacterial and antimicrobial agents is assessed. The disease must be treated with an antibiotic to which the identified microorganisms are sensitive.

Any pathologies of the ENT organs should be treated under the guidance of an otolaryngologist. Often, inflammatory processes can be stopped using bacteriophages, which are produced in the form of a solution or spray. These include, in particular, chlorophyllipt.

Quite often, folk recipes help to cope with anaerobic bacteria. The composition of medicinal mixtures should include components such as mint, rose hips, and hawthorn. This method of therapy is considered absolutely safe. The first results are achieved within a few days. However, the total duration of therapy should be at least 3 weeks.

How not to infect others

To prevent infection of others, you need to follow these recommendations:

wash your hands more often;
use personal hygiene products and utensils;
disinfect the house - wipe door handles, switches, etc.

A throat smear can be considered an informative test that helps identify pathogenic microorganisms and determine their sensitivity to drugs. It is very important to carefully prepare for the procedure in order to obtain objective results.

A swab from the throat is taken for a standard bacteriological study in order to study the microbial composition and quantitative ratio of the microflora of the nasopharynx. This is a laboratory diagnostic method that allows you to identify pathogens of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. To determine the etiology of the infection, it is necessary to conduct a bacteriological study of the discharge of the nose and pharynx for microflora.

Specialists refer patients with chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis and pharyngitis to a microbiological laboratory, where biomaterial is taken from the nose and pharynx with a sterile cotton swab and examined. Based on the results of the analysis, the specialist determines the causative agent of the pathology and its sensitivity to antibiotics.

Reasons and purposes of taking a smear for microflora from the throat and nose:

Diagnosis of sore throat caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus and leading to the development of severe complications - glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, myocarditis.
The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasopharynx, which provokes the formation of boils on the skin.
Bacteriological seeding of clinical material for inflammation of the nasopharynx is carried out in order to exclude diphtheria infection.
Suspicion of meningococcal or pertussis infection, as well as respiratory ailments.
Diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, mononucleosis, abscesses located near the tonsils includes a one-time analysis.
Persons in contact with an infectious patient, as well as children entering kindergarten or school, undergo a preventive examination to identify bacterial carriage.
A complete examination of pregnant women includes taking a swab from the throat for microflora.
A swab from the throat and nose for staphylococcus is taken for preventive purposes by all medical workers, kindergarten teachers, cooks and grocery store clerks.
A throat swab to determine the cellular composition of the discharge. The material to be studied is applied to a special glass slide. Under a microscope, a laboratory technician counts the number of eosinophils and other cells in the field of view. A study is being conducted to determine the allergic nature of the disease.

Patients are sent to the bacteriological laboratory to examine material from the nasopharynx in order to exclude or confirm a specific infection. The direction indicates the microorganism whose presence must be confirmed or refuted.

Microflora of the nasopharynx

The mucous membrane of the pharynx and nose is home to many microorganisms that make up the normal microflora of the nasopharynx. A study of the discharge of the throat and nose shows the qualitative and quantitative relationship of the microbes living in a given locus.

Types of microorganisms living on the nasopharyngeal mucosa in healthy people:

Bacteroides,
Veillonella,
Escherichia coli
Branhamella,
Pseudomonas,
Streptococcus matans,
Neisseria meningitides,
Klebsiella pneumonia
Staphylococcus epidermidis,
viridans streptococcus,
Non-pathogenic Neisseria,
Diphtheroids,
Corynebacteria,
Candida spp.
Haemophilis spp.,
Actinomyces spp.

In case of pathology, the following microorganisms can be detected in a smear from the throat and nose:

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus
Pneumococcus,
S. aureus,
Corynobacter diphtheria,
Haemophilis influenzae,
Neisseria meningitidis,
Candida albicans
Bordetella,
Listeria,
Branhamella catarrhalis,
Acinetobacter baumannii,
Enterobacteriaceae.

Read more about what is found in the smear staphylococcus, its pathogenicity and staphylococcal infection, we recommend reading the link.

Preparing for analysis

In order for the analysis results to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to correctly select clinical material. To do this, you should prepare.

Two weeks before collecting the material, stop taking systemic antibiotics, and 5-7 days before, it is recommended to stop using antibacterial solutions, rinses, sprays and ointments for topical use. The test should be taken on an empty stomach. Before this, it is forbidden to brush your teeth, drink water and chew gum. Otherwise, the analysis result may be false.

A nasal swab for eosinophils is also taken on an empty stomach. If a person has eaten, he must wait at least two hours.

Taking material

To properly take material from the pharynx, patients tilt their heads back and open their mouths wide. Specially trained laboratory personnel press the tongue with a spatula and collect pharyngeal secretions with a special instrument - a sterile cotton swab. Then he removes it from the mouth and puts it into a test tube. The test tube contains a special solution that prevents the death of microbes during transportation of the material. The test tube must be delivered to the laboratory within two hours from the moment the material is collected. Taking a throat swab is a painless but unpleasant procedure. Touching a cotton swab to the mucous membrane of the pharynx can provoke vomiting.

To take a nasal swab, you need to sit the patient opposite and tilt his head slightly back. Before the analysis, it is necessary to clear the nose of existing mucus. The skin of the nostrils is treated with 70% alcohol. A sterile swab is inserted alternately, first into one and then into the other nasal passage, turning the instrument and firmly touching its walls. The swab is quickly lowered into a test tube and the material is sent for microscopic and microbiological examination.

Microscopic examination

The material to be examined is applied to a glass slide, fixed in a burner flame, Gram stained, and examined under an oil immersion microscope. Gram-negative or gram-positive rods, cocci or coccobacilli are detected in the smear, and their morphological and tinctorial properties are studied.

Microscopic signs of bacteria are an important diagnostic landmark. If the smear contains gram-positive cocci, located in clusters resembling bunches of grapes, it is assumed that the causative agent of the pathology is staphylococcus. If the cocci stain positive for Gram and are located in the smear in chains or pairs, it may be streptococci; gram-negative cocci - Neisseria; gram-negative rods with rounded ends and a light capsule - Klebsiella, small gram-negative rods - Escherichia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further microbiological examination is continued taking into account microscopic signs.

Inoculation of the test material

Each microorganism grows in its “native” environment, taking into account pH and humidity. Media can be differential diagnostic, selective, universal. Their main purpose is to provide nutrition, respiration, growth and reproduction of bacterial cells.

Inoculation of the test material must be carried out in a sterile box or laminar flow hood. The healthcare worker must wear sterile clothing, gloves, a mask and shoe covers. This is necessary to maintain sterility in the work area. In the box, you should work silently, carefully, ensuring personal safety, since any biological material is considered suspicious and obviously infectious.

A nasopharyngeal swab is inoculated onto nutrient media and incubated in a thermostat. After a few days, colonies of different shapes, sizes and colors grow on the media.

There are special nutrient media that are selective for a specific microorganism.

The main medium for germs of the throat and nose is blood agar. This is a highly sensitive medium containing nutrients for saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria. Pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus produce hemolysins and cause hemolysis of red blood cells. The hemolytic activity of microbes is the main factor of pathogenicity, which most pathogenic bacteria possess. The growth pattern, color and zone of hemolysis differ among microbes of different genera and species.
Sabouraud's medium or thioglycollate medium is universal and suitable for a wide range of microbes.
Yolk-salt agar is an selective medium for growing staphylococci.
Warmed blood agar - chocolate agar. This is a non-selective, enriched nutrient medium used for growing pathogenic bacteria. On this medium, gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and pathogens of purulent bacterial meningitis grow.
Endo medium is a differential diagnostic medium for the cultivation of enterobacteriaceae.
Enterococcus is a nutrient medium for the isolation of enterococci.

The material is rubbed into the medium with a swab on a small area measuring 2 square meters. cm, and then using a bacteriological loop, streaks are scattered over the entire surface of the Petri dish. The crops are incubated in a thermostat at a certain temperature. The next day, the crops are examined, the number of colonies grown is taken into account and their nature is described. Individual colonies are reseeded on selective nutrient media to isolate and accumulate a pure culture. Microscopic examination of a pure culture makes it possible to determine the size and shape of the bacterium, the presence of a capsule, flagella, spores, and the relationship of the microbe to staining. The isolated microorganisms are identified to genus and species, and if necessary, phage typing and serotyping are carried out.

Research result

Microbiologists write out the results of the study on a special form. To decipher the result of a throat smear, indicator values are required. The name of the microorganism consists of two Latin words denoting the genus and type of microbe. Next to the name, indicate the number of bacterial cells, expressed in special colony-forming units. After determining the concentration of the microorganism, they move on to designating its pathogenicity - “opportunistic flora”.

In healthy people, bacteria live on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and perform a protective function. They do not cause discomfort and do not cause inflammation. Under the influence of unfavorable endogenous and exogenous factors, the number of these microorganisms increases sharply, which leads to the development of pathology.

Normally, the content of saprophytic and opportunistic microbes in the nasopharynx should not exceed 103 - 104 CFU/ml, and pathogenic bacteria should be absent. Only a doctor with special skills and knowledge can determine the pathogenicity of a microbe and decipher the analysis. The doctor will determine the advisability and necessity of prescribing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs to the patient.

After identifying the causative agent of the pathology and identifying it to genus and species, they proceed to determining its sensitivity to phages, antibiotics and antimicrobials. It is necessary to treat a disease of the throat or nose with the antibiotic to which the identified microbe is most sensitive.

throat swab test results

Options for the results of a throat smear examination:

Negative culture result for microflora- there are no pathogens of bacterial or fungal infection. In this case, the cause of the pathology is viruses, not bacteria or fungi.
Positive culture result for microflora- there is an increase in pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria that can cause acute pharyngitis, diphtheria, whooping cough and other bacterial infections. With the growth of fungal flora, oral candidiasis develops, the causative agent of which is biological agents of the 3rd pathogenicity group - yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

Microbiological examination of the throat and nose flora makes it possible to determine the type of microbes and their quantitative ratio. All pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms are subject to complete identification. The result of laboratory diagnostics allows the doctor to correctly prescribe treatment.

Video: about a smear and staphylococcus in it, Dr. Komarovsky

What does a swab from the nose and throat show (decoding the main indicators). How do I know if I need to undergo treatment?

The interpretation of the results of a smear from the throat and nose is always closely tied to the reason that necessitated this analysis.

This means that identifying a particular microbe using a smear is significant (and may indicate the need for treatment) only if this microbe could cause the disease for which the analysis was performed.

This means, for example, that if a person with frequent boils (this disease is known to be closely related to Staphylococcus aureus) has a throat smear revealing beta-hemotylic streptococcus from group A, then he will not need to undergo any special treatment since it is obvious that that these microbes do not cause a throat infection (for example, a sore throat) in him, which they can provoke in other people.

Bacteroides
Branhamella
Veillonella
Candida albicans
Streptococcus mutans
Haemophilus influenza
Streptococcus pyogenes
Streptococcus pneumonia
Neisseria meningitides
Corynebacteria diphtheriae
Klebsiella pneumonia
Pseudomonas
Escherichia coli
Cytomegalovirus
Herpes simplex virus
Epstein-Barr virus

(many of these germs can cause dangerous diseases, but may not cause any harm).

There is no need to carry out preventative treatment to eliminate all potentially dangerous microbes from the throat. Moreover, it is almost impossible to completely clear the throat or nose of all potentially dangerous microbes. Soon after antibiotic treatment is completed, many of them will reappear in the throat.

Do healthy people and relatives of a sick person need a nasal and throat swab?

In most cases, a smear test is not necessary for healthy family members. However, in some situations, when the doctor suspects that the source of persistent infection of a sick person is one of the healthy family members, he may recommend a throat or nasal swab for all family members.

This practice, for example, is necessary to solve the problem of frequent boils that appear in some people infected with Staphylococcus aureus.

This is discussed in detail in our article dedicated to solving the problem of boils.

Throat swab - what is it?

Indications

This study is performed in the following situations:

Preventive examination before hiring. Usually a smear is needed if a person plans to work with food, children, the sick, etc.
Examination of pregnant women. This helps prevent the development and activity of bacteria that pose a danger to the baby.
Examination of children who are going to enter preschool institutions. This helps prevent outbreaks of the disease in children's groups.
Diagnosis before hospitalization or in preparation for surgery. In such a situation, the doctor must make sure that there are no microorganisms that could aggravate the course of the postoperative period.
Examination of people who have had contact with infectious patients. This will help prevent the subsequent spread of the disease.
A study to accurately determine the causative agent of ENT pathologies. The procedure also helps to establish the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to drugs.
Detection of diphtheria, scarlet fever, sinusitis, and other pathologies.

Why do they take a smear for flora, says the doctor:

What tests are taken, what can be determined

The procedure does not cause pain, but may cause discomfort. Touching the throat and tonsils with a tampon often provokes a gag reflex.

After collecting the mucus, the specialist places it in a nutrient medium. It prevents the death of microorganisms until studies are carried out that help determine their type.

This test helps detect beta-hemolytic streptococcus category A. The results of this test can be obtained in 5-40 minutes. Typically, antigen tests have high sensitivity.

Sowing involves placing mucus particles from the throat in a special environment, which leads to the active proliferation of microbes. Thanks to this, the doctor can identify microorganisms inhabiting the mucous membrane. This makes it possible to identify the sensitivity of bacteria to. This is especially important if standard therapy does not produce results.

PCR analysis helps determine the types of microbes that inhabit the throat. This is done through DNA elements present in the mucus.

How to take a throat swab correctly

How to prepare

In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, it is very important to adhere to certain recommendations. Before taking the analysis you must:

Avoid using mouth rinses that contain antiseptic ingredients 2-3 days before the procedure.
Avoid the use of sprays and ointments that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial substances several days before the procedure.
Avoid consuming food or drinks 2-3 hours before the test. It is best to take the test on an empty stomach.
On the day of the procedure, it is advisable not to brush your teeth or at least several hours before the examination not to chew gum.

Quite often they help to cope with anaerobic bacteria. The composition of medicinal mixtures should include components such as mint, rose hips, and hawthorn. This method of therapy is considered absolutely safe. The first results are achieved within a few days. However, the total duration of therapy should be at least 3 weeks.

How not to infect others

To prevent infection of others, you need to follow these recommendations:

wash your hands more often;
use personal hygiene products and utensils;
disinfect the house - wipe door handles, switches, etc.

Specialists refer patients with chronic disease to a microbiological laboratory, where biomaterial is taken from the nose and pharynx with a sterile cotton swab and examined. Based on the results of the analysis, the specialist determines the causative agent of the pathology and its sensitivity to antibiotics.

Reasons and purposes of taking a smear for microflora from the throat and nose:

Diagnosis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus and leading to the development of severe complications - glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, myocarditis.
The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasopharynx, which provokes the formation of boils on the skin.
Bacteriological seeding of clinical material for inflammation of the nasopharynx is carried out in order to exclude diphtheria infection.
Suspicion of meningococcal or pertussis infection, as well as respiratory ailments.
Diagnosis of stenotic abscesses located near the tonsils includes a one-time analysis.
Persons in contact with an infectious patient, as well as children entering kindergarten or school, undergo a preventive examination to identify bacterial carriage.
A complete examination of pregnant women includes taking a swab from the throat for microflora.
A swab from the throat and nose for staphylococcus is taken for preventive purposes by all medical workers, kindergarten teachers, cooks and grocery store clerks.
A throat swab to determine the cellular composition of the discharge. The material to be studied is applied to a special glass slide. Under a microscope, a laboratory technician counts the number of eosinophils and other cells in the field of view. A study is being conducted to determine the allergic nature of the disease.

Microflora of the nasopharynx

Types of microorganisms living on the nasopharyngeal mucosa in healthy people:

Bacteroides,
Veillonella,
Escherichia coli
Branhamella,
Pseudomonas,
Streptococcus matans,
Neisseria meningitides,
Klebsiella pneumonia
Staphylococcus epidermidis,
viridans streptococcus,
Non-pathogenic Neisseria,
Diphtheroids,
Corynebacteria,
Candida spp.
Haemophilis spp.,
Actinomyces spp.

In case of pathology, the following microorganisms can be detected in a smear from the throat and nose:

Beta-hemolytic group A,
S. aureus,
Listeria,
Branhamella catarrhalis,
Acinetobacter baumannii,

Preparing for analysis

In order for the analysis results to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to correctly select clinical material. To do this, you should prepare.

A nasal swab for eosinophils is also taken on an empty stomach. If a person has eaten, he must wait at least two hours.

Taking material

To properly take material from the pharynx, patients tilt their heads back and open their mouths wide. Specially trained laboratory personnel press the tongue with a spatula and collect the pharyngeal secretions with a special instrument - a sterile cotton swab. Then he removes it from the mouth and puts it into a test tube. The test tube contains a special solution that prevents the death of microbes during transportation of the material. The test tube must be delivered to the laboratory within two hours from the moment the material is collected. Taking a throat swab is a painless but unpleasant procedure. Touching a cotton swab to the mucous membrane of the pharynx can provoke vomiting.

Microscopic examination

Microscopic signs of bacteria are an important diagnostic landmark. If the smear contains gram-positive cocci, located in clusters resembling bunches of grapes, it is assumed that the causative agent of the pathology is staphylococcus. If the cocci stain positive for Gram and are located in the smear in chains or pairs, it may be streptococci; gram-negative cocci - Neisseria; gram-negative rods with rounded ends and a light capsule - Klebsiella, small gram-negative rods - Escherichia, . Further microbiological examination is continued taking into account microscopic signs.

Inoculation of the test material

A nasopharyngeal swab is inoculated onto nutrient media and incubated in a thermostat. After a few days, colonies of different shapes, sizes and colors grow on the media.

There are special nutrient media that are selective for a specific microorganism.

Research result

Normally, the content of saprophytic and opportunistic microbes in the nasopharynx should not exceed 10 3 - 10 4 CFU/ml, and pathogenic bacteria should be absent. Only a doctor with special skills and knowledge can determine the pathogenicity of a microbe and decipher the analysis. The doctor will determine the advisability and necessity of prescribing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs to the patient.

throat swab test results

Options for the results of a throat smear examination:

Negative culture result for microflora– there are no pathogens of bacterial or fungal infection. In this case, the cause of the pathology is viruses, not bacteria or fungi.
Positive culture result for microflora– there is an increase in pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria that can cause acute pharyngitis, diphtheria, whooping cough and other bacterial infections. With the growth of fungal flora, oral candidiasis develops, the causative agent of which is biological agents of the 3rd pathogenicity group - yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Lyudmila asks:

How are the results of a throat smear interpreted?

To decipher the results of a throat smear, you need to know the meaning of the indicators indicated on the form in the form of a table or list. Let's consider each indicator and its specific meaning.

The result will indicate the name of one or more microorganisms that were identified in the nasal swab. Most often their names are written in Latin, for example, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, etc. All of these microbes, as a result of a throat smear, make up the vast majority of representatives of the microflora of the mucous membrane of the throat. For example, the smear says Streptococcus pyogenes. This means that on the mucous membrane of the pharynx the main microflora is streptococcus.

Next to the name of the microorganism or in the corresponding column of the table, its quantity is indicated. Moreover, the number of microbes is measured in special units - CFU/ml. CFU is an abbreviation for colony-forming unit. That is, the number of bacteria on the mucous membrane of the pharynx is measured in the number of CFU that grow in one liter of nutrient medium.

However, these terms are too abstract, so let’s look at how CFUs are counted in reality. The collected swab from the throat is brought to the laboratory, where special nutrient media have already been prepared, which are designed specifically for the growth of various bacteria. A loop is passed over the surface of the media and left in a thermostat so that the inoculated bacteria can grow. From bacteria applied to the surface of the medium, entire colonies grow, looking like spots of different shapes. Each spot is a collection of bacteria, which scientists call a colony. From this colony you can grow many new ones by reseeding. That is why such clusters of bacteria grown on a nutrient medium from a smear are called colony-forming units.

After colonies of microbes grow on the nutrient medium, the bacteriologist counts their number using various methods. The most commonly used method is serial dilution, in which 1 ml of the original biological material is diluted 10 times and added to a second tube. Then 1 ml from the second test tube is again diluted 10 times and added to the third test tube. At least 10 such successive dilutions are made. Then, material is taken from all test tubes with dilutions and sown on a nutrient medium. The maximum concentration of CFU is considered to be the dilution in which microbes no longer grow. For example, colonies grew from the fifth tube on the medium, but not from the sixth. This means that CFU/ml is equal to the dilution from the 6th tube, which is 10 6 .

The importance of microbial counts cannot be underestimated. If the amount of any microbe in a throat smear is less than 10 3 - 10 4, then this is a normal variant. If its quantity is more than 10 5 CFU/ml, then this indicates a rapid growth of opportunistic flora, that is, a person has developed dysbiosis of the mucous membranes of the throat. Sometimes the results do not indicate the number of CFUs, but rather “confluent growth,” which means a very large number of bacteria forming confluent colonies that simply cannot be accurately counted. In rare cases, the results of a throat swab indicate that the bacterial count is 10 1 CFU/ml. This means that the number of bacteria is too small, so they do not play a role in the development of inflammation in the nasal mucosa.

In addition to parameters relating to the number and type of microbes present on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the results of the smear may include an antibiogram. An antibioticogram is a study of a microbe for sensitivity to various antibiotics. Moreover, the higher the sensitivity, the more destructive the antibiotic is to the microbe. Based on sensitivity to antibiotics, the doctor chooses the most effective drug for treatment.

An antibioticogram can be presented in the form of a table or a simple list, in which the names of antibiotics are listed from bottom to top. Opposite each antibiotic there is a designation in the form of “+”, “++” or “+++” icons. One plus “+” means that the sensitivity of the microbe to this antibiotic is practically absent, “++” reflects low sensitivity, and “+++” – high. In some cases, instead of plus icons, a tick is used to indicate the sensitivity of a microbe to an antibiotic, which is entered in the corresponding column of the table in the “high”, “low”, “absent” column. If there is a checkmark in the “absent” column, then this antibiotic is completely ineffective against the identified microbe. The checkmark in the "high" column corresponds to the "+++" icon, and the "low" column corresponds to the "++" icon. If it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment, then you should choose an antibiotic to which the identified microbes are highly sensitive. That is, the most effective antibiotics will be those opposite which there is a “+++” icon or a checkmark in the “high” column.

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They take it from the pharynx - that is, from the throat - in order to examine the mucous membrane and what bacteria and microorganisms inhabit it and in what quantity, and who is the possible causative agent of a particular disease.

This analysis helps the doctor accurately diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment and medications.

This analysis may be prescribed in the following cases:

As one of the preventive procedures when hiring, if a person is applying for a job related to food products, children, sick patients and the like. The results of the analysis will show whether the person is healthy and whether he can work in this field.
When examining pregnant women, in order to prevent the development and action of bacteria that can provoke complications that complicate the course and threaten the life of the baby.
When examining children entering preschool institutions to prevent the occurrence of infectious outbreaks in children's groups.
Before hospitalization of the patient in the hospital and in preparation for surgery, to ensure the absence of microorganisms that can cause complications during the postoperative period.
Screening people who have had close contact with patients with highly contagious microbial diseases to prevent further spread of the disease.
To accurately identify the pathogen that provoked a particular ENT organ, as well as to determine the sensitivity of this pathogen to the medications used.
For detection and treatment of sore throat, diphtheria, sinusitis, sinusitis, external otitis, etc.

If we summarize all of the above, we can say that a smear on the flora is prescribed in two cases: to find out whether a person is a carrier of pathogenic microbes and to identify the causative agent of any disease.

Preparation

In order to obtain the most reliable results, you need to follow certain rules, because this analysis requires some, although simple, but extremely important.

So, before taking a smear you need to:

refuse any rinses and mouth rinses containing antiseptics 2-3 days before the procedure
Avoid throat sprays and ointments containing antibiotics and antimicrobial substances 2-3 days before the procedure
do not eat or drink any drinks 2-3 hours before the test (best at all)
It is advisable not to brush your teeth on the day of the test or at least 2-3 hours before it
don't chew gum

It is necessary to refuse mouthwash solutions and throat sprays because they kill most of the microbes found in the mucous membrane of the pharynx and reduce their numbers to a minimum. As a result, of course, the true number of microbes in the mucous membrane will not be shown and the bacteria that can cause or have already caused will not be detected in the smear.

The food or drinks a person takes, as well as toothpaste, can simply wash away some of the bacteria, and this will also affect the result, which will not show what microorganisms are actually on the mucous membrane.

It is advisable not to eat or drink at all on the day of the test, and if possible, it is better to refuse even a glass of water or a mug of coffee in the morning after waking up.

Thus, bacteria need to be given free rein and allowed to multiply freely in the mucous membrane for 2-3 days without exposing them to various antibacterial agents, and only then can the real picture be seen.

During the procedure, the patient throws his head back and opens his mouth wide. Pressing the patient's tongue with a medical metal or wooden spatula, the doctor runs a sterile cotton swab placed on a metal loop along the mucous membrane of the pharynx.

The procedure does not cause any pain and virtually no discomfort in the patient, with the exception of perhaps the gag reflex, which can appear from touching the back wall of the throat.

The stick with the material collected on it is placed in a sterile container, where all conditions are created for the comfortable life of microbes so that they do not die before arriving at the laboratory.

In the laboratory, the collected material is placed in various nutrient media depending on the purpose for which it was carried out. Depending on the reaction and behavior of microbes, the results of the analysis are formed.

Decoding the results

Throat flora smear - normal and deviations from the norm

To decipher the results correctly, you need to know exactly what it was prescribed for. It is depending on a particular purpose that the presence and quantity of a particular microbe is examined and the need is established.

The results indicate the names of those microorganisms that make up the vast majority in the throat mucosa. The table or list shows the names of bacteria in Latin and their number in special units of measurement.

Normally, the following organisms are present in the mucous membrane of the pharynx:

epidermal
viridans streptococcus
some Candida fungi
non-pathogenic Neisseria and pneumococci

Among pathogenic bacteria, a smear on the flora from the throat can reveal the following:

?-hemolytic streptococcus group A
whooping cough pathogen
causative agent of diphtheria
fungi Candida albicans, etc.

Streptococci cause most human diseases; they try to identify it when pneumonia, pharyngitis, sore throat, scarlet fever and others are suspected.To exclude the possibility of an allergic cause of the disease, a smear is taken on those involved in allergic reactions.

Useful video - staphylococci.

To diagnose a staphylococcal infection, a staphylococcus smear is done. This is an opportunistic bacterium that causes disease only under certain conditions - for example, hypothermia, vitamin deficiency, weakened immunity.

The doctor who prescribed this analysis will independently decipher all the results obtained and, based on them, decide what actions to take in the future.

A throat flora smear is a simple, quick and completely painless procedure that will help identify the presence of pathogens and possible pathogens. Most often it is prescribed by a doctor and often provides complete information about the pathogens and the necessary treatment.