Culture of an ear swab

What is an ear swab?

The ear canal is the section between the outer ear, the visible part of the ear, and the eardrum, whichra located in the middle of the temporal bone. When inflammation is present, serous contents often exude into this duct. It is possible attime to perform a swab, that is, to take this content using a special sterile swabwipe with sterilized material at the end, and then microbiological analysis of the obtained prwipe is performed to determine the exact strain of bacteria causing the disease.

This is possible thanks to a specialized microbiological procedure – culture, i.e. the multiplication of the bacteria obtained with the prbek under controlled conditions. In addition to determining the species of bacteria, it is also possible to determine their resistance to variousl types of antibioticsw.

Ear smear – when to perform?

Ear disorders are a common complication of inflammation of the gral drg respiratory tract. The ear is connected to the throat via the auditory trumpet, also known as the Eustachian tube, through which bacteria can reach the ear and cause inflammation there. It is more common in children, but it is also possible in adults. During this disease, they usually multiply in the inner ear, but can also be present on the outside of the eardrum. When there is a large accumulation of serous fluid in the middle ear, the eardrum can rupture and the inflammatory content from inside can leak into the outer ear.

Bacterial culture based on the material obtained during the swab allows assessment of the bacteria and implementation of effective treatment for this disease.

Ear swab – who should perform it?

This test is performed during the diagnosis of inflammatory diseasesb of the ear, especially in cases where symptoms do not resolve over time or worsen and do not respond to the initially implemented treatment. Symptomsof otitis that should refer the patient for a specialist consultation include:

• severe, constant earache combined with a spreading sensation
• fever
• deterioration of hearing

Preliminary diagnosis made on the basis of the patient's medical history and clinical picture of symptomss presented by the patient is confirmed by otoscopic examination, which is an examination performed with a special instrument used to assess the appearance of the eardrum.