What is a throat swab?

Normal human pharyngeal isthmus culture should have normal oral flora, without the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria in the pharynx all come from the outside world and are not pathogenic under normal circumstances, but infections can occur when the body's systemic or local resistance declines and other external factors lead to diseases. Therefore, bacterial culture of throat swabs can isolate pathogenic bacteria, which is helpful for the diagnosis of diphtheria, suppurative tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, etc.

Throat swab specimen collection

The secretions were collected from the pharynx and tonsils for bacterial culture or virus isolation.

The principle of throat swab collection

Because both breath and food pass through the mouth, bacteria of all kinds live in the mouth. Such as catarrhal bacteria, various staphylococci, various streptococci, diphtheria-like bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. In addition, there are anaerobic bacteria, such as Peptococcus, Bacteroidetes and yeast-like bacteria.

Influenza is spread through the respiratory tract, and the pharynx is where the virus gathers. Throat swab samples are medical cotton swabs, which are dipped in a small amount of secretions from the pharynx of the human body, and the samples taken are throat swab samples. Virus type.

Clinical significance of throat swab collection

If pathogenic bacteria are detected in sputum and throat swab secretions, it is considered a respiratory infection. It can be combined with other examinations (X-ray fluoroscopy, B-ultrasound, etc.) to diagnose the site of respiratory infection.