Specimens must be prepared properly before inoculation to appropriate culture media.
The following steps are recommended by Leber et al.6
- To ensure an even distribution, vortex grossly purulent specimens.
- Grind bone or tissue with 1 mL of thioglycollate or chopped meat broth medium.
- Preferable to planting swabs directly onto media, wring out swabs in 0.5 mL of thioglycollate or chopped meat broth medium.
- Centrifuge large volumes, inoculate media, and make a Gram stain from the sediment.
- Joint implants may be sonicated. Sonication subjects the sample to ultrasonic vibration to break apart or fragment. For this process, the goal is to recover bacteria from biofilms.
6. Leber A, Burnham CD, eds. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. 5th ed. Washington DC: ASM Press; 2023.
