Provide the Clinician With Same-Day Information Regarding Possible Pathogens

This version of the course is no longer available.
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course . Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about (online CE course)
Provide the Clinician With Same-Day Information Regarding Possible Pathogens

Cultures often require 24 or more hours before a pathogen can be recovered. A Gram stain can give preliminary information about the type of bacterial and/or fungal organisms that are present.
A rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, made after examining a Gram stained smear of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid, allows the physician to begin treatment immediately.
Intracellular gram-negative diplococci observed in a male urethral specimen may be diagnostic for gonorrhea. Cultures may not even be needed unless susceptibilities are required. (In the female genital specimen, the presence of gram-negative diplococci is not specific enough to confirm the diagnosis, and a culture or other confirmatory testing must be performed).