title: Bacterial culture specimens. Categories, collection, and interpretation.
abstract: An approach to the collection and interpretation of bacterial cultures based on specimen category is presented. The sensitivity and specificity of cultures of material taken from deep closed body areas (category 1), deep communicating body areas (category 2), and superficial body surfaces (category 3) are considered.
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000382:microbiology