Hair, nail clippings, skin scrapings, blood, CSF, and sputum are the most common clinical specimens.
Pus aspirate is the preferred sample. S. aureus, Strep pyogenes, and members of Enterobacteriaceae are major pathogens.
The overall volume of blood cultured is more critical in increasing organism yield. More the blood volume cultured greater the chance of isolating pathogen.
Common transport media are Cary and Blair medium, amies medium, Staurt’s medium, and VTM for virus.
Clean-catch midstream urine, suprapubic aspiration and straight catheter techniques are common method of urine sample collection.
Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate are the common upper respiratory tract specimens.
Common etiologic agents of acute meningitis are enteroviruses and bacteria (S. pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae).
