Stool Preventive Culture

Stool culture test is used to identify potential intestinal pathogens. Pathogen growth in the culture can be expected when: 1) a coprological examination finds many leukocytes; 2) there is bloody diarrhea; 3) there is a fever; 4) there is unclear clinical presentation, and the patient has returned from a trip where there may be outbreaks of enteric infections; 5) the patient has been in contact with pathogenic material.

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

Stools are unsuitable for testing if you have taken or are taking antibiotics, sulfonamides, or antihelminthic medications. They should be tested before treatment with these medications or 5-10 days after the medication use.

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