MICROBIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL-VALUE OF PRIMARY BROTH CULTURES OF WOUND SPECIMENS COLLECTED WITH SWABS

In order to assess the microbiologic and clinical value of primary bro th culture of wound specimens collected with swabs and submitted to th e laboratory in transport medium, we compared the results of primary a gar culture with the results of a corresponding primary broth culture for 344 aerobic specimens and 176 anaerobic specimens, While 8.7% (45 of 520) of the specimens yielded organisms from the primary broth cult ure that were not recovered from the corresponding primary agar cultur e, only 5.0% (26 of 520) of the specimens yielded organisms from the p rimary broth culture other than Staphylococcus epidermidis, viridans g roup streptococci, and Corynebacterium spp, Moreover, the primary brot h culture of only 0.6% (3 of 520) of the specimens yielded organisms n ot recovered from the primary agar culture that caused a change in the therapy of the patient, Our conclusion is that primary broth cultures are unnecessary for the processing of wound specimens properly collec ted with swabs.