Throat swab for infection. Throat and nose swab

A swab from the throat for microflora is prescribed for many patients who suffer from a prolonged runny nose or have other symptoms of viral infections.

Thanks to this simple study, it is possible to study the flora of the mucous membrane and identify the causative agent of the pathology. This makes it possible to choose the right therapy.

This diagnostic method is used in such situations:

Thus, a swab from the throat and nose is carried out in two main situations: to determine the carriage of harmful microorganisms and to detect the causative agent of the disease.

Training

In order for a swab for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics to give a reliable result, it is important to follow a number of recommendations. This study needs some preparation. So, before passing the analysis, you should:

Antiseptics for the oral cavity are contraindicated because they help to kill most of the microbes present on the mucous membranes. As a result, the study will not help determine the true number of microorganisms and identify the bacteria that provoked the disease.

The use of drinks and food, as well as the use of toothpaste, will provoke the washing off of some of the microorganisms. This will also distort the results. On the day of the study, it is advisable to completely refuse food and drinks. It is better to exclude even a morning cup of coffee or a glass of water.

Features of the study

The procedure is completely painless. It does not lead to negative health effects. To conduct research, perform the following steps:

An adult needs to open his mouth wide. If the procedure is performed on a young child, the health care provider will need parental assistance.
The end of the tongue is pressed with a spatula, and with the other hand, by means of a loop with a cotton-gauze tip, the mucous secretions are carefully removed from the arches, pharyngeal walls, and tonsils. The material should be taken so that the device does not touch the teeth, cheeks or tongue.
Then the instrument must be immediately placed in a sterile container. The resulting analysis must be sent for research within 2 hours. If this is not possible, the material is immediately placed in a container containing a preservative.

microscopic examination

Tank sowing from the pharynx involves applying the resulting material to a glass slide. It is fixed with a burner, a study is carried out using immersion oil. Gram staining is also often performed. As a result of the procedure, it is possible to identify pathogenic bacilli, coccal flora, coccobacilli. Specialists examine their morphological characteristics.

Microscopic signs of bacterial microorganisms are an important diagnostic criterion. If there are gram-positive cocci in the material, which are located in clusters similar to grapes, it can be suspected that staphylococci are the causative agent of the disease.

If coci stain positively for Gram and form pairs or chains, streptococci are most likely the cause of the pathology. Neisseria are classified as Gram-negative coccal flora. If the material contains gram-negative rods with a light capsule and round ends, we are talking about Klebsiella. Escherichia are small Gram-negative rods. This group also includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Sowing material

To identify infectious agents, the material is placed in a special environment, taking into account pH and humidity. Environments can be different - universal, selective. Differential diagnostic environments are also distinguished. In any case, their key task is to ensure life and create conditions for the reproduction of bacteria.

The material is sown in a sterile box. A laminar flow cabinet can also be used for this purpose. The laboratory technician must wear sterile clothing. Equally important is the use of shoe covers, masks, gloves. Due to this, it is possible to maintain the desired indicators of sterility in the working area.

Care must be taken when working in the box. It is very important to monitor your own safety, as any biomaterials can pose a threat to the health of a medical worker.

Materials from the nasopharynx are placed in a special environment in a thermostat. After a few days, whole colonies grow. They may vary in size, shape and shade.

There are special media that are selective for certain microorganisms:

Blood agar is considered the main medium for microbes from the nose and throat. It is highly sensitive and includes nutrients for saprophytes and harmful microorganisms. Pneumococci and staphylococci produce hemolysins and lead to hemolysis of red blood cells. The hemolytic activity of bacteria is considered to be the main factor of pathogenicity. It is typical for most pathogenic microorganisms. Features of growth, shade and area of hemolysis differ depending on the variety of microbes.
Universal options include thioglycol medium and Sabouraud. They are suitable for most harmful bacteria.
For staphylococci, yolk-salt agar is used.
The non-selective medium is warm blood agar. It develops gonococci, bacteria that cause purulent meningitis, and Haemophilus influenzae.
The differential option for growing enterobacteria is Endo medium.
Enterococci develop well in enterococci.

By means of a swab, the material is placed into the medium, after which it is distributed over the Petri dish using a bacteriological loop. Then the crops are sent to the thermostat, selecting the desired temperature. The next day they are viewed, the number of colonies is determined and their character is assessed.

Some colonies are placed in certain media to identify and accumulate pure culture. Thanks to its study under a microscope, it is possible to assess the size and shape of bacteria, to identify the presence of spores, bundles or capsules. Also, experts determine the ratio of bacteria to staining.

It is important to determine the genus and species of isolated bacteria. In addition, the specialist conducts phage typing and serotyping.

Data interpretation

In a normal state, a lot of various microorganisms are present in the pharynx of each person. Some are a variant of the norm, while others are dangerous to health. Sometimes a certain amount of harmful bacteria does not provoke any consequences. Such flora is called conditionally pathogenic. Valid options include:

candidal fungi;
epidermal staphylococci;
herpetic infection;
pneumococci.

Deciphering the analysis allows you to identify the following microorganisms:

Staphylococcus aureus. It can provoke various inflammations. At the same time, such processes affect not only the pharynx, but also lead to systemic pathologies. When the immune system is weakened, bacteria become active and provoke pathologies such as otitis media, diseases of the urinary system, sinusitis, and purulent skin lesions. Often, Staphylococcus aureus causes diseases of the bone tissue and digestive organs.
Hemolytic streptococcus. This bacterium often provokes tonsillitis. Also, its active reproduction causes complex forms of pharyngitis with a large amount of purulent secretion and scarlet fever.
Leffler wand. This microorganism is the causative agent of diphtheria. With the help of the study, it is possible to determine the degree of toxic effect of bacteria on the body.

An increase in the number of fungi also indicates certain disorders in the body, since it is a sign of a weakened immune system. Sometimes a throat swab can detect eosinophils. These cells appear with allergies, so you can suspect the non-infectious nature of the pathology.

A throat swab is considered an informative diagnostic study. Thanks to its implementation, it is possible to detect pathogenic microorganisms and determine their susceptibility to antibiotics. This allows the doctor to choose the appropriate therapy.

Sowing from the nose is the removal of biological material from the corresponding cavity. It is one of the methods for diagnosing an infection. Bacteriological culture is carried out if there is a suspicion of the bacterial nature of various diseases. It has the main goal: to select an adequate etiological therapy. With the help of laboratory analysis, the type of microorganisms that cause any inflammatory process is determined.

Bacteriological culture is used to make an accurate diagnosis in the following areas:

ENT diseases;
dermatology;
urology;
venereology;
gynecology and other areas of medicine.

Performing bacteriological culture is equally effective for both non-acute and sluggish, latent infections. Bacteriological culture is very often used to detect infections in the nasal cavity for diagnosing rhinitis, sinusitis. It is also widely used for gynecological purposes.

However, many of these medical fields misuse this procedure in vain. Often the use of bacterial analysis depends on material interest and unwillingness or ignorance by doctors of methods for diagnosing syndromes.

Basically, this test is indicated for use in the presence of female pelvic inflammatory disease and recurrent vulvovaginitis, male prostatitis and chronic, torpid urethritis, but it is also widely used in diseases of the nose and throat. Doctors insist on confirming the presence of various nasal infections in the following category of citizens: girls, elderly women, military conscripts and pregnant women.

The main stages of bacteriological analysis

Bacteriological culture is considered a standard procedure in the detection of infections. It consists of the following steps:

Biological material is taken in the nose and sown in a nutrient medium (agar-agar solution, sugar broth).
Test tubes with material are placed in a beneficial environment for bacteria, where all the conditions for their reproduction are created.
Bacteria are being studied.
Obtaining an antibiogram.
Appointment of therapy.

This analysis allows you to determine the causative agent of the disease, to assess the number, activity and response to antibiotic drugs. Thus, it is easier for the doctor to determine the effective treatment.
Despite the high level of sensitivity and specificity of bacterial culture, this method also has disadvantages:

long-term research;
high qualification requirements for laboratory workers;
strict criteria for the seizure of biological raw materials;
rules for preparing for bacteriological culture from the nasal cavity.

General rules before passing the analysis:

Within one to three days, it is necessary to remove alcoholic beverages from the diet, foods that accelerate the fermentation processes in the intestines (black bread, cabbage, cucumbers, radishes).
Do not wash your nose for one day.
Do not use antibacterial drugs for 3-4 days.
For one day, you should refrain from using drops and ointments in the nasal cavity.

Cultures can be performed with material taken from the nose, blood, urine, etc. Before taking it, be sure to take a break after using antibiotics.

Bakposev during pregnancy

It is an important and integral part of the examination of pregnant women. During this period, their body becomes more vulnerable. Untimely examination can adversely affect the health of the expectant mother and her baby. Therefore, the analysis is prescribed immediately after contacting the consultation, to determine the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. This microorganism acts as a strong causative agent of various postpartum complications. Obtaining a positive result allows you to timely sanitize the patient and prevent infection of her child.

For the women themselves, this analysis is not dangerous. The material is taken very carefully and sterile, either by the medical staff of the consultation, or in the bacterial laboratory. If necessary, treatment is prescribed. The control sampling of the material is carried out no earlier than two weeks after the end of antibiotics.

Where to go to donate and where to get the results of bacteriological culture?

As a rule, all necessary tests are prescribed by a doctor. In this case, the examination will be competent and correct. The doctor will give a referral to a special laboratory.

If you wish, you can independently contact a special laboratory, having passed the analysis there. Baklaboratory must have a special license, sterile medical utensils, qualified medical personnel.

Usually, the results of the seed analysis are obtained no earlier than after 5-8 days (during this period of time, microorganisms have time to be identified) in the form of a special form. It indicates the rate of bacterial culture. If desired, such a document can be obtained by mail, telephone or fax. After deciphering the results by laboratory microbiologists, they also draw up a conclusion, which is transferred to the doctor or personally to the patient (if contacted independently). If the result is bad, then therapy is prescribed.

What if the result is bad?

In the human body, there is a maximum allowable rate for the presence of certain bacteria in the body. That is, the amount of bacteria that does not contribute to the appearance of subjective sensations and diseases. For example, ureaplasmas and mycoplasmas, which make up the normal human microflora, require treatment only when a large number of microorganisms and symptoms of the inflammatory process are present.

In the result forms, you can see the unit of measure CFU (colony forming units), which means one microbial cell, subsequently multiplying to a whole colony. For any culture method, standard documents are used that prescribe clinically significant amounts of bacteria that can cause disease. If the value of colony forming units is exceeded, the bacteriological laboratory immediately performs culture and checks the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. This procedure is important in determining the optimal course of treatment.

A swab from the pharynx gives an idea of the composition of the microflora of the oropharynx. The doctor, having assessed the quantitative composition of microbes, can confirm the infectious origin of the disease. Sowing indicates not only the type of microorganisms, but also allows you to determine the antibiogram. Based on the results of the tank study, he prescribes antibacterial drugs that will be most effective in this case.

TEST: Find out what's wrong with your throat

Did you have an elevated body temperature on the first day of illness (on the first day of the onset of symptoms)?

For a sore throat, you:

How often lately (6-12 months) have you experienced similar symptoms (sore throat)?

Feel the neck area just below the lower jaw. Your feelings:

With a sharp increase in temperature, you have used an antipyretic drug (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol). Thereafter:

What sensations do you experience when you open your mouth?

How would you rate the effect of throat lozenges and other topical pain relievers (sweets, sprays, etc.)?

Ask someone close to look down your throat. To do this, rinse your mouth with clean water for 1-2 minutes, open your mouth wide. Your assistant should illuminate himself with a flashlight and look into the oral cavity by pressing a spoon on the root of the tongue.

On the first day of illness, you clearly feel an unpleasant putrefactive bite in your mouth and your loved ones can confirm the presence of an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity.

Can you say that in addition to a sore throat, you are worried about coughing (more than 5 attacks per day)?

Why is a smear test performed?

confirmation of the infectious origin of tonsillitis, sinusitis, meningitis, whooping cough and other diseases;
search for Staphylococcus aureus, which is the cause of purulent lesions of the skin (furunculosis, pyoderma);
to exclude diphtheria in the absence of Leffler's bacillus in smears;
for the diagnosis of stenosing laryngitis, as well as mononucleosis.

For prophylactic purposes, taking a swab from the pharynx is indicated:

people who had contact with a sick person to determine the bacteriocarrier;
in employment in the food industry, in medical and children's institutions;
children before visiting educational institutions, sports, swimming pool to prevent the epidemic;
before hospitalization, in the preoperative period.

Pregnant women are required to study to establish the risk of developing an infectious disease, as well as the occurrence of complications from the fetus.

Preparatory stage

In order for the analysis to provide the most accurate results, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations. Preparation includes:

5 days before the examination, it is forbidden to take antibacterial drugs, which will allow the reproduction of pathogenic microbes to resume;
3 days before the diagnosis, the use of rinsing solutions, as well as a spray with an antiseptic effect, will be canceled. They reduce the number of pathogenic microbes, which makes it difficult to diagnose;
a swab from the throat is performed on an empty stomach;
before the study, chewing gum, drinks are prohibited, it is undesirable to brush your teeth.

Material collection process

It is possible to facilitate the process of taking a swab from the throat by following a certain algorithm of actions. The patient needs to tilt his head back a little, open the oral cavity as much as possible in order to show the posterior pharyngeal wall to the specialist.

The tongue is fixed with a spatula to the bottom of the oral cavity. A swab from the throat is taken with a sterile swab located at the end of an elongated loop. Take a smear carefully, without touching the swab to other surfaces of the oral cavity.

The collected material with a swab is placed in a test tube, after which it is transported to the laboratory in the first 90 minutes. The algorithm must be observed to obtain reliable research results.

When a sterile swab is passed over the surface of the posterior pharyngeal wall, the patient may experience a gag urge, especially with a pronounced gag reflex.

Microscopy and culture

Microscopic examination is carried out before bakposev to determine the cellular composition to provide for which colonies can grow on a nutrient medium.

Microscopy is performed by staining according to the Gram method, after which cells are visualized under a microscope. Sowing is done on a specific medium, since each type of microorganism requires compliance with pH and humidity levels.

Sowing on flora ensures the growth of colonies, on the basis of the shape and shade of which the type of microorganisms is established. The main task of nutrient media is to provide respiration and nutrition for microbes for rapid growth and reproduction.

The material is sown in sterile laboratory conditions in compliance with the rules of asepsis. Medical staff should not forget about protective equipment, as biological material can be extremely infectious in terms of infection.

The results of the inoculation are evaluated daily, but the final conclusions are made after a week, analyzing the color, shape and other characteristics of the colonies.

Particular attention is paid to the antibiogram, which is performed by covering the area of grown colonies with circles soaked in an antibacterial agent. If pathogenic microbes are sensitive to a particular antibiotic, colony growth is inhibited. In cases where colonies grow under antibacterial action, the drug is considered ineffective. Based on these results, the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy, which helps to cope with the disease.

Diagnostic results

What does a smear show? The flora of the mucous membrane consists of various microorganisms. A swab from the pharynx for microflora shows the number of pathogenic, as well as opportunistic microbes. In a small number of pathogenic bacteria do not cause the development of the disease, as well as opportunistic pathogens. However, with a decrease in the body's immune defense against the background of severe general hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic pathology, a cold, or in the postoperative period, opportunistic bacilli begin to multiply intensively, provoking the development of the disease.

Normally, infections such as streptococcus, E. coli or Neisseria can be found in the flora. This is considered a variant of the norm if their number does not exceed the permissible norm, and there are no clinical signs of an infectious disease.

It is worth noting that they should not be taken for destruction, since after the end of taking antibacterial agents, they again populate part of the microflora of the mucous membranes.

When a doctor prescribes a test, he expects results to confirm the presence or absence of certain pathogens that may have triggered the patient's symptoms.

The decoding of a throat swab includes the name of microorganisms, opposite which their number is indicated, which is expressed in special units. They began to be called CFU / ml, which indicates the number of bacterial pathogens growing in one liter of nutrient medium. CFU for short called a colony forming unit.

If the analysis showed the content of microbes ten to the fourth degree, this refers to the variant of the norm. When the result exceeds this level, for example, is ten to the fifth power, then the intensive growth of microbes is confirmed. An imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is dysbacteriosis, which leads to the development of the disease.

If the analysis showed a "confluent growth" of microorganisms, it is worth suspecting a large number of bacilli that form colonies when confluent. The results of bakposeva also indicated antibiogram. It lists antibacterial agents in the form of a tablet. There is a “+” sign next to each antibiotic:

one "+" indicates a low level of sensitivity of the pathogenic microbe in relation to this type of antibacterial agent;
two "+" indicates an average level;
3 "+" - high sensitivity.

If the pathogen does not have sensitivity to a particular antibiotic, then a “tick” is placed opposite. This means that the choice of this antibacterial drug is not appropriate, since the therapeutic effect of its use will not be observed.

The analysis, or rather its results, are recorded on a special form. The type of microorganisms is indicated in Latin letters:

a negative result is considered when a swab from the throat does not have a fungal and bacterial flora. In this case, the doctor should suspect a viral infectious pathology.
a positive response indicates the presence of growth of pathogenic / opportunistic microbes that can cause an infectious and inflammatory process in the oropharynx, nasopharynx. When there is an increase in the fungal flora, candidiasis develops in the oral cavity.

We emphasize that normally the microflora can consist of fungi, Klebsiella pneumonia, diphtheus, bacteroids, actinomycetes, pseudomonads, non-pathogenic Neisseria, Escherichia coli, strepto-, meningococci, as well as epidermal staphylococcus.

As for pathogens, it is worth highlighting listeria, meningo-, pneumococcus, Leffler's bacilli, hemolytic streptococcus, branhamella, hemophilic bacillus, bordetella, staphylococcus aureus, as well as fungi.

A swab from the throat gives an idea of the presence of pathogenic microbes that could cause the development of the disease. Based on the results of the study, the doctor determines which treatment will be most effective in this case.

- a quick and painless procedure that provides significant assistance in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

A swab from the throat for microflora is carried out quite often, because it gives the doctor the necessary information about the patient's health status. This analysis is mistakenly confused with smears in gynecology. Although the task of the analysis is to determine bacterial microorganisms on the mucous membrane, they take it from the throat. They do an analysis, as a rule, on the eve of the appointment of antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic agents. This is necessary to assess the susceptibility of the pathogen strain to a particular drug.

If you are taking the test for the first time, you don’t have to worry, nothing that can cause discomfort or pain will happen to you during the diagnostic process. Bakposev from the pharynx does not take much time and is completely painless. The doctor takes a smear on the flora from the pharynx using a wooden stick, on which a cotton swab is wound. The patient opens his mouth, and the medical officer visually examines the oral cavity for visible foci of inflammation - redness and rashes. Further, holding the tongue with a flat stick, he takes a smear from the back wall of the pharynx. In some people, a stick held on the tongue can cause a gag reflex, but it quickly comes back when the root of the tongue stops irritating the instrument.

There is an alternative way to take the test - the patient is asked to gargle with saline solution, and then spit it into a sterile container. In this case, the medical staff receives a larger volume of biomaterial, which allows them to conduct tests and more accurately determine the causative agent of the disease.

This analysis does not require special preparation, it is enough for the patient not to smoke or suck on lollipops for two hours before taking a smear. Having removed the biomaterial, the bacillus is placed in a nutrient medium, where, after the formation of a colony, the laboratory assistant can detect various types of cocci, diphtheria bacilli, yeast-like fungi and other representatives of the microfauna.

The main medium for throat microbes is blood agar. This medium contains nutrients for the active reproduction of saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria, for example, pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus.

Sabouraud's medium is suitable for a wide range of microbes and is considered to be versatile. Yolk-salt agar is an elective medium for the mass cultivation of staphylococci. Chocolate agar is excellent for the reproduction of gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and pathogens of purulent bacterial meningitis. Endo medium is suitable for culturing Enterobacteria. Enterococcus agar allows the development of a colony of enterococci.

It will take longer than usual tests, about 5-7 days, to wait for the results on the sowing tank from the throat. Sowing from the pharynx for microflora requires more time, since a series of tests must be carried out to determine the sensitivity of the inherent bacteria to antibiotics, and to choose the best of the drugs.

A swab from the throat for microflora, like any analysis, has a number of indications for carrying out, among them such diseases as:

diphtheria;
suspicion of Staphylococcus aureus;
meningococcal infection;
whooping cough;
mononucleosis;
scarlet fever;
angina and other bacterial diseases.

Pain in this area, difficulty in swallowing, temperature fluctuations and a number of other characteristic symptoms can become an indication for a throat swab. Taking into account the simplicity and painlessness of the procedure for conducting a smear on the sowing tank, you can undergo it as a preventive measure to exclude pathological processes in the body.

A bacteriological study of this type is very important to carry out even as a preventive measure. Especially, it concerns the medical staff of the maternity ward. Staphylococcus aureus, for example, spreads by airborne droplets, its large number can pose a significant threat to the life of newborns.

Analysis results

Deciphering a smear from the pharynx is carried out by a qualified specialist. A normal result indicates that the test is negative, that is, no pathogenic organisms were found in the oral cavity that could provoke the disease. The patient is healthy if no pathogenic flora is found in the oral smear, which exceeds 10 * 3 - 10 * 4. An indicator of 10 * 5 or more indicates the intensive development of conditionally pathogenic flora. The result sheet indicates the bacterium that was detected. The form also indicates the quantitative composition of the pathogen.

Analysis of the flora from the pharynx can determine the development of pathogens such as:

Bacteroides can cause chronic sinusitis, otitis media, mouth infections, abscesses, and necrotizing pneumonia.
Branhamella causes sinusitis and respiratory infections.
Veillonella forms dental plaques, the causative agent of periodontal disease.
Candida albicans in small amounts does not cause disease, although an increase in its number provokes candidiasis.
Streptococcus mutans destroys the enamel of the teeth, leads to their deformation and loss.
Haemophilusinfluenza is one of the causative agents of influenza and epiglottitis.
Streptococcus pyogenes causes colds and respiratory problems.
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, sinusitis, endocarditis, septic arthritis, primary peritonitis, cellulitis.
Neisseriameningitides causes meningitis and nezopharyngitis.
Corynebacteriadiphtheria is the causative agent of diphtheria.
Klebsiellapneumonia can cause pneumonia and urogenital infections.
Pseudomonas is found in purulent inflammatory processes, enteritis and cystitis.
Escherichia coli causes peritonitis, colpitis, prostatitis and dysbacteriosis.
Cytomegalovirus provokes sexually transmitted diseases, including oral contact.
Herpes simplex virus is the causative agent of herpes infections.
Epstein-Bar virus causes a lot of diseases of different localization, for example, hepatitis, herpes, leukoplakia, multiple sclerosis, immune deficiency, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphogranulomatosis and Steven-Jobs syndrome.

As can be seen from the above diseases, a throat swab is a very informative procedure that allows you to avoid the further development of the pathological process and eliminate the disease at an early stage of development. If a large number of certain bacteria are found in the tests, the doctor is likely to ask the patient's relatives or people in contact with the patient to undergo a tank test. This is necessary if the doctor suspects that the patient is constantly infected from someone from the environment.

Treatment of pathogenic flora

An otolaryngologist can prescribe an analysis. He will also select drugs for the treatment of a particular disease. How the treatment will take place directly depends on which microbe was identified:

Bacteroids and Veillonella are sensitive to imidazole derivatives: Metronidazole, Tinidazole and Ornidazole.
Epstein-Barlechat virus with Ganciclovir and Valaciclovir.
Escherichiacoli is treated with Gentamicin, Nifuratel, and Rifaximin.
Herpes simplex virus and Cytamegalovirus can be treated with Acyclovir, Valaciclovir, Famciclovir, and Penciclovir.
Pseudomonas is susceptible to Piperacillin, Impenem, Tobramycin and Ciprofloxacin.
Klebsiellapneumonia is sensitive to aminoglycosides and third-generation cephalosporins.
Neisseriameningitides is a deadly bacterium that is eliminated by a number of drugs, including Penicillin, Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Ceftriaxone.
Haemophilus influenza therapy consists in the use of Cefotaxime or Ceftriaxone.
Corynebacteriadiphtheria is eliminated with drugs called Cefotaxime, Anaerocef, Lincomycin.
Streptococcus pyogenes is susceptible to penicillins and cephalosporins.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is treated with Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Levofloxacin and Josamycin.
Streptococcus mutans - Ampicillin, Augmentin, Benzylpenicillin, Vancomycin;
Branhamella is susceptible to tetracyclines as well as cephalosporins.
Candida albicans is eliminated with fluconazole and itraconazole.

All of the above drugs cannot be prescribed to yourself on your own, most of them have toxic substances in their composition, which can negatively affect your well-being and worsen the situation even more. After the patient undergoes a course of therapy, he is re-analyzed for a culture tank from the pharynx, so that the doctor understands whether the treatment with the selected drugs has helped, or whether it is worth adjusting the therapy regimen.

From the pharynx - that is, from the throat - they take it in order to examine the mucous membrane and what bacteria and microorganisms inhabit it and in what quantity, and who is the possible causative agent of a particular disease.

This analysis helps the doctor to accurately diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment and medications.

This analysis may be prescribed in the following cases:

As one of the preventive procedures when applying for a job, if a person applies for a job related to food, children, sick patients and the like. The results of the analysis will show whether the person is healthy and whether he can work in this area.
When examining pregnant women, to prevent the development and action of bacteria that can provoke, complicating the course and threatening the life of the baby.
When examining children entering preschool institutions to prevent the occurrence of infectious outbreaks in children's groups.
Before hospitalization of the patient in a hospital and in preparation for surgery, to ensure that there are no microorganisms that can cause complications during the postoperative period.
Examination of people who have been in close contact with patients with acutely contagious microbial diseases in order to prevent further spread of the disease.
To accurately identify the pathogen that provoked one or another ENT organs, as well as to determine the sensitivity of this pathogen to the medications used.
For the detection and treatment of tonsillitis, diphtheria, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, otitis externa, etc.

To summarize all of the above, we can say that a smear on the flora is prescribed in two cases: to find out if a person is a carrier of pathogenic microbes and to identify the causative agent of any disease.

Training

In order to get the most reliable results, you need to follow certain rules, because this analysis requires some, albeit simple, but extremely important.

So, before taking a smear, you must:

refuse any rinses and solutions for rinsing the mouth containing antiseptics 2-3 days before the procedure
refuse throat sprays and ointments containing antibiotics and antimicrobial substances 2-3 days before the procedure
do not eat or drink any drinks for 2-3 hours before the test (best at all)
it is advisable not to brush your teeth on the day of the test or at least 2-3 hours before it
do not chew gum

It is necessary to refuse mouthwashes and throat sprays because they kill most of the microbes that are in the mucous membrane of the pharynx and reduce their quantities to a minimum. As a result, of course, it will not show the true number of microbes in the mucosa and those bacteria that can cause or have already caused will not be detected in the smear.

The food or drinks taken by a person, as well as toothpaste, can simply wash away some of the bacteria, and this will also affect the result, which will not show which microorganisms are on the mucosa in reality.

It is advisable not to eat or drink at all on the day of the test, and if possible it is better to refuse even a glass of water or a cup of coffee in the morning after waking up.

Thus, bacteria need to be given free rein and allowed to multiply freely in the mucosa for 2-3 days without exposure to various antibacterial agents, and only then can the real picture be seen.

During the procedure, the patient throws his head back and opens his mouth wide. Pressing the patient's tongue with a medical metal or wooden spatula, the doctor draws a sterile cotton swab on a metal loop along the mucous membrane of the throat.

The procedure does not cause the patient any pain and almost no discomfort, except perhaps for the gag reflex, which can appear from touching the back of the throat.

The stick with the material collected on it is placed in a sterile dish, where all conditions are created for the comfortable life of microbes so that they do not die before arriving at the laboratory.

In the laboratory, the collected material is placed in various nutrient media, depending on the purpose for which it was carried out. Depending on the reaction and behavior of microbes, the results of the analysis are formed.

Deciphering the results

A smear on the flora from the pharynx - the norm and deviations from the norm

To decipher the results correctly, you need to know exactly what he was appointed for. It is depending on this or that purpose that the presence and quantity of this or that microbe is investigated and the need is established.

The results indicate the names of those microorganisms that make up the vast majority in the throat mucosa. The table or list shows the names of bacteria in Latin and their number in special units.

Normally, the following organisms are present in the mucous membrane of the throat:

epidermal
viridescent streptococcus
some candida fungus
non-pathogenic Neisseria and pneumococcus

Among the pathogenic bacteria, a smear on the flora from the pharynx can reveal the following:

α-hemolytic streptococcus group A
whooping cough
causative agent of diphtheria
fungi Candida albicans, etc.

Streptococci cause most human diseases, they are trying to identify it if pneumonia, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, scarlet fever and others are suspected.To exclude the possibility of an allergic cause of the disease, a smear is taken on those involved in allergic reactions.

Useful video - staphylococci.

To diagnose a staphylococcal infection, a smear for staphylococcus aureus is done. This is an opportunistic bacterium that causes disease only under certain conditions - for example, hypothermia, vitamin deficiency, weakened immunity.

The doctor who ordered this analysis will independently decipher all the results obtained and, based on them, decide what actions to take in the future.

A smear on the flora from the pharynx is a simple, quick and completely painless procedure that will help identify the presence of pathogenic microbes and possible pathogens. Most often, it is prescribed by a doctor and often provides complete information about pathogens and the necessary treatment.