One of the important skills of a nurse is the ability to take a swab from the throat and nose for bacteriological studies.

The purpose of taking swabs from the throat and nose : to identify the causative agent of the disease, bacterial carrier, and also to determine sensitivity to antibiotics.

contraindications to the procedure.

Manipulation equipment

• a stand with special sterile test tubes, in which long rods with a dry cotton swab are mounted (made in the bacteriological laboratory of a medical institution or in a factory way);
• sterile spatula;
• 2 referral forms (under No. 1 - for a swab from the throat, under No. 2 - from the nose);
• bix or container for transporting material;
• mask;
• sterile gloves;
• pencil on glass or indelible marker.

 

The sequence of taking a swab from the pharynx and nose

• We make directions.
• On the eve of the study, we explain to the patient that we will take the material on an empty stomach and before taking medication. We obtain informed consent for the study from the patient.
• Before the procedure, wash your hands, put on a mask and gloves.
• We mark the test tubes: pharynx - No. 1; nose - number 2.
• We seat the patient facing the light source, slightly tilting his head back. We sit opposite the patient.
• In the left hand we take a spatula and test tube No. 1.
• We ask the patient to open his mouth, fix his tongue with a spatula.
• With the right hand, we take out the rod with the swab from the test tube.
• Carefully, so as not to touch the oral mucosa, we draw a cotton swab along the palatine arches and tonsils on both sides, the uvula and the back wall of the pharynx. We take out the rod and spatula from the patient's mouth. It is important to do everything not only carefully, but also quickly, so as not to cause the patient to vomit.
• Without touching the edges of the test tube, insert the rod with the swab into the test tube, close it tightly.
• We attach the corresponding direction No. 1 to the test tube, set the test tube in a tripod.
• We examine the patient's nasal cavity, make sure that it is clean. If necessary, we offer the patient to blow his nose, remove dry crusts from the nasal cavity, softening them with sterile vaseline oil, and dry the patient's nasal cavity with a sterile cotton swab.
• We take test tube No. 2 in the left hand, remove the rod from it with the right hand and insert the rod into the lower nasal passage of the patient with rotational movements to a depth of 1.5-2 cm: alternately into the left and right nostrils.
• We remove the rod from the patient's nasal cavity and close the tube as soon as possible by inserting the rod with the swab into it.
• We attach the corresponding direction to test tube No. 2.
• We put the test tube in a tripod.
• We remove the rack with test tubes in a bix or a special container, closing it with a lock.
• Remove the mask and gloves, put them in a container with a disinfectant.

The material ready for research is sent to the laboratory by courier. It is possible to store test tubes with biomaterial in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 hours. A swab from the pharynx and nose is not a very complicated procedure, but it requires maximum responsibility.

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