HHC Health & Home Care Clinical Policy And

HHC HEALTH & HOMECARE SECTION: 1-5
Throat Culture __RN
PURPOSE: 5. With flashlight, inspect the oral and pharyngeal
mucosa in order to identify the area to be cultured.
To obtain a sample from oropharynx for diagnostic
purposes. 6. Gently and quickly, swab the tonsillar area side to
side, making contact with inflamed or purulent sites.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Carefully withdraw swab without striking other oral
structures.
1. This procedure must be performed carefully in order
to avoid stimulation of the patient's gag reflex. 7. Return swab to tube as specified in manufacturer's
instructions.
2. Requires physician order.
8. Label specimen with patient’s name and date and
site of collection.
EQUIPMENT:
9. Discard soiled supplies in appropriate containers.
Tongue blade
Flashlight
Sterile, cotton-tipped applicators
Impervious bag
Personal protective equipment (clean / non-sterile
gloves) as indicated
AFTER CARE:
1. Return patient to position of comfort.
2. Arrange delivery of specimen to lab. Complete lab
slip as needed.
3. Document in patient's record:
a. Appearance of oropharynx.
PROCEDURE: b. Date and time of procedure.
1. Adhere to Universal Precautions.
2. Explain procedure to patient.
3. Position patient in semi-Fowler's or Fowler's position
with head well supported and slightly tilted back.
4. Instruct patient to open mouth. Press down firmly
on the midpoint of the arched tongue with tongue
blade so that oropharynx is visualized.
c. Patient’s response to procedure.
d. Lab to which specimen was delivered.
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