Laboratory
UK SMI notes – Ear Infections.
Type of specimen: Ear swab Middle ear fluid Scraping of material from the ear canal (for fungal infection) Expected organisms
Bacteria
Staphylococcus lugdunensis
Bacteria Staph lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) capable of causing aggressive diseases like Staph aureus. Staph lugdunensis tends to
Laboratory
SMI: Investigation of whooping cough
Types of specimen Cough plates are not recommended. Selective media It contains blood or charcoal or both, along with selective
Laboratory
SMI: Investigation of Throat-Related Specimens
Specimens Throat swab, posterior pharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, pharyngeal washings, pus aspirate, oropharyngeal swab, throat gargle. Why To investigate upper
Laboratory
SMI Summary: Investigation of bone marrow
Because it is an invasive procedure, bone marrow biopsy (typically collected from the posterior iliac crest or the sternum) is
Laboratory
SMI notes: Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia (SMI B 55)
There are 2 SMIs related to H pylori- Identification of Helicobacter spp. (SMI ID26) & Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia (SMI
Laboratory
SMI (note): Investigation of swabs from the skin and superficial soft tissue infection
Specimen Advice for the users: Safety Processing Gram stain – usually not done unless deep-seated pus from a normally sterile
Vaccine
Shingles vaccine: study note
Two licensed shingles vaccines are available in the UK: Zostavax® and Shingrix®. Zostavax® Shingrix® Live vaccine? Live attenuated vaccine Recombinant