Diagnostic Stool Culture

Stool culture test is used to identify potential intestinal pathogens. Pathogen growth in the culture can be expected when: 1) a coprological examination shows a high number of leukocytes; 2) there is bloody diarrhea; 3) there is a fever; 4) the clinical picture is unclear and the patient has returned from travel where there might be foci of enteric infections; 5) the patient has been in contact with pathogenic material.

How to collect a stool sample for testing: Stool samples are collected into clean and dry disposable plastic containers (available at pharmacies). Water and urine must not get into the sample, so stools should not be collected from the toilet. Stools are collected from several places of one portion, paying special attention to mucus, blood clots in the stool, which must be collected for examination. The required amount of stool for the test is 5-10 g (the size of a walnut); if the stool is liquid or watery – 10 ml.

Stools are unsuitable for testing if you have taken or are taking antibiotics, sulfanilamides, or antihelminthic drugs. They should be examined before treatment with these preparations or 5-10 days after taking the drugs.

Microbiological tests also determine the sensitivity of microbes to antibiotics, which is done through an antibiogram that shows which antibiotic is best suited for the patient being tested.