Superficial Wound Culture - Provincial

Overview

Description

• Bacterial culture for suspected wound infections. Infection should be suspected when an area of skin around a wound demonstrates discharge (often purulent), erythema, pain or swelling.
• Superficial wound swabs should only be performed in patients with uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections associated with a wound where typical pathogens are anticipated.
• Wound swabs are not suitable for anaerobic culture. For infections where anaerobic organisms are suspected submit aspirate or tissue samples.
• For suspected fungal infections, always submit aspirates or tissues and request fungal culture.

Ordering recommendations

• Collect specimen prior to antimicrobial therapy for greatest diagnostic sensitivity
• Collect swabs ONLY if aspirates and tissues cannot be obtained
• For closed abscesses see “Tissue(Biopsy)/Tissue aspirate/Bone Culture”
• A superficial wound culture is any sample collected from less than or equal to 2cm within the wound
• For suspected fungal infections, submit skin scrapings or tissue and request fungal culture for Mycology (Fungal) - Fungal Culture

Alias

• Closed space culture
• Wound culture

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Gel swab
• Swab submitted in liquid Amies media (Eswab®)

Specimen collection container

• Swab submitted in liquid Amies media (Eswab®)
• Gel swab

Collection procedure

• Prior to the collection of any specimen, remove all exudate, purulent material and necrotic tissue from the wound.
• Wash the wound thoroughly using normal saline. Wound base should be visible and free of exudate, pus and necrotic tissue before sampling.
• Collect from areas with viable not necrotic tissue.
• Gently rotate the swab over a 1 cm² area of the wound for about 5 seconds, using enough pressure to express fluid from the wound.
• Specimens should be taken before antibiotic treatment. 

Required volume

• 1 gel swab or Eswab® specimen

Transport and stability

• Swab specimens can be transported at room temperature or refrigerated at 4°C

Performance

Days/times performed

• All specimens will be tested at the nearest microbiology laboratory

Maximum laboratory time

• Turnaround time of 24 - 72 hours from receipt in lab

Specimen retention time

RGH	Specimens are retained for 7 days after initial processing
RUH	Specimens are retained for 7 days after initial processing

Other information

Patient history

• Superficial wound swabs are for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections only. They are not suitable for anaerobic culture.
• Deep wound swabs should be submitted for infections where anaerobic bacteria play a role (deep abscess, ulcerated lesions, necrotic lesions, soil-contaminated wounds, bite wounds).
• For complicated wound infections and surgical collections, aspirates or tissue biopsies are preferred. This includes diabetic foot infections, osteomyelitis, complicated post-surgical wounds, necrotizing wounds, atypical pathogens or chronic recurrent infections.

Last Updated: September 9, 2025