What you need to know about bacterial cultures. What is a cervical culture tank test? What is the seeding of gynecology during pregnancy

A pregnant woman must be registered with an antenatal clinic until the time of delivery. Where the gynecologist regularly examines her, monitors the development of the baby and the state of health of the woman herself. In this case, you have to take an immense number of tests, including the study of biochemical parameters of blood and urine, as well as screening tests for fetal pathology. Regular testing helps to objectively assess the development of pregnancy, and if diseases arise, to cure them in a timely manner. One of the informative and often prescribed studies is the analysis of urine for the culture tank during pregnancy. The results obtained make it possible to diagnose the presence of infection in the genitourinary organs, the number and type of pathogen, and to choose the appropriate treatment. In the article we will try to figure out what kind of analysis it is, what criteria it must meet, and how to parse the result.

Bacteriological inoculation is a method for studying biomaterial in order to grow colonies of harmful bacteria on a nutrient substrate. The analysis is carried out in well-defined environmental conditions while observing exceptional sanitary cleanliness.

During pregnancy, culture shows the presence of pathogenic flora in the urine. At the same time, bacteria are counted and their susceptibility / resistance to drugs is established. If, according to the results of the study, a woman receives a bad urine culture tank during pregnancy, she is immediately prescribed adequate treatment.

The delivery of such an analysis has very good reasons, and they are associated not only with the state of the kidneys during pregnancy. For many decades, obstetricians-gynecologists have been paying attention to the dangerous perinatal period, which lasts from 23 gestational weeks to 7 days of age after delivery. During this period, the largest number of fetal or newborn deaths occurs. And about 45% of deaths are associated with intrauterine infection through the placenta or at birth.

Most urogenital infections are latent, and during pregnancy they become aggravated, which often becomes a provocateur of fetal death. To prevent tragedy, urine culture is performed. It identifies the pathogenic agent and helps to prescribe rational treatment if the analysis is positive.

Purpose of urine culture during pregnancy

Pregnant women are sent for urine culture 2 times for the entire gestational period: at registration with a gynecologist and closer to childbirth (at 34-37 weeks). Such measures are preventive in order to exclude the presence of infection, even if there are no external signs of urogenital diseases. Such an analysis is mandatory and is carried out by everyone, without exception.

Sometimes a urine culture tank during pregnancy is prescribed unscheduled. For example, if a pregnant woman has chronic problems with the genitourinary system or in cases where the leukocyte count and protein levels are exceeded in a simple urinalysis. These indicators indicate acute inflammation in the kidneys.

If a woman had any violations of the genitourinary organs before pregnancy, she should immediately notify the obstetrician-gynecologist about this. In this situation, the doctor will pay more attention to this analysis, and if necessary, the woman will take it more often in order to prevent serious complications.

In addition, the reason for additional delivery of urine to the sowing tank is:

• A history of pregnant diabetes.
• Immunodeficiency state of a woman.
• Ineffectiveness of treatment for existing infections.
• Control of conducting therapy.
• A woman's complaints about painful urge to go to the toilet.
• A sharp rise in temperature for no reason.

Urine culture analysis during pregnancy is also appropriate if other tests are normal. The fact is that many hiding infections, especially of a chronic nature, do not affect urine indicators. But when sowing, microbes are sown under certain conditions, so it is possible to determine a specific pathogen.

If the culture is not carried out, and the woman has a latent infection, the disease will progress. Over time, without timely treatment, the disease will turn into acute inflammation - pyelonephritis or cystitis. This complication leads to gestosis, difficult childbirth, fetal stillbirth.

Urine culture during pregnancy: how to donate correctly?

When an obstetrician-gynecologist issues a referral for a culture tank, he must inform the woman of the rules for collecting urine. Their strict adherence will help to get a real result and the woman will not have to re-take the test. If you are directed to a urine culture tank for the first time during pregnancy, and you don’t know how to do it correctly, don’t worry, we will describe everything in detail. This is no more difficult than a regular urinalysis, you just need to be a little more careful and deliver the urine to the clinic as soon as possible.

The rules for collecting urine are quite simple and any woman can follow them, even without experience in this matter. Below is a complete list of requirements and recommendations on how to collect a urine culture during pregnancy:

• Intimate hygiene should be performed before urine collection.
• It is recommended to insert a clean disposable tampon in the vestibule of the vagina. This will prevent vaginal fluids from entering the container.
• Only morning urine is suitable for research.
• The middle part of the urine is directed into the container: first, the stream is directed into the toilet, then into the jar and the remainder back into the toilet. The required portion of liquid should be 60-80 ml.
• For informational content, the sowing tank is recommended to use a sterile pharmacy jar. It costs a penny, but at the same time it is completely sterile and hermetic.
• After collecting the biomaterial, the container must be tightly closed and the lid must not be removed again (this is done only by a laboratory assistant in a laboratory). If you open the container on the way, the analysis will not be reliable.
• The biomaterial should be delivered to the laboratory in 1-2 hours.
• It is also recommended not to take diuretic medicines or herbal preparations with a diuretic effect in 48 hours.
• 24 hours before urine collection, coloring products should be excluded from the menu.

Sowing urine for flora during pregnancy: how is the diagnosis carried out

After the urine is delivered to the research facility, it is immediately sent for testing. If the material is not immediately checked, after a couple of hours it will no longer be suitable, since many foreign flora from the outside will begin to multiply in the urine.

The laboratory assistant places a few drops of urine in a container with a special medium. It can be agar, sweetened broth, Sabouraud. Then the necessary climatic conditions are created for the reproduction of bacteria.

Although bacteria are negligible and we cannot see them without a microscope, they are quite picky about "food" and temperature environment. To make them "feel" comfortable and begin to increase their numbers with pleasure, they are placed in a thermostat. This device is a real incubator for microbes, where, feeding on the provided soil, they begin to multiply perfectly.

The technician then opens the inoculation container. If no bacterial colonies are found, then the test is negative. If the test is positive, microbial growth will be visible in the sample. The number of harmful representatives is indicated in the CFU (colony-forming unit).

If, during the analysis, a bad urine culture comes out during pregnancy, an antibiogram is immediately done. The specialist denotes what kind of antibiotic can destroy the pathogenic flora. This helps to correctly treat a pregnant woman without consequences for her and her baby. On average, the entire process takes about 7 days.

I would like to note that normally a small number of microbes are inoculated in the urine of all people, for example, it can be E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus or other representatives of the coccal flora. But the COE indicators should be within the normal range. Only a strong increase in this value indicates a pathological process. Therefore, it is very important to know what standards the urine analysis for bacteriological culture should meet.

Culture of urine during pregnancy: decoding indicators

CFU is a quantitative indicator indicating one microbial group (colony). The higher this indicator, the more the urinary bacteriuria progresses. For example, CFU ˂1000 means that the woman is healthy. The inoculated microorganisms can be its normal flora, or they got into the urine from the genitals or from the air. The indicator CFU ˃ 1000 indicates a disease. If, when sowing urine during pregnancy, the norm is hundreds of times exceeded, then an acute inflammatory process is taking place.

If the test is positive, the woman may be re-assigned a urine culture tank to rule out a mistake. Especially if the form contains intermediate indicators from 1000 to 10,000 CFU.

The laboratory form will indicate not only the number of CFU, but also a list of identified bacteria: fungi, cocci, protozoa. The sensitivity of bacteria to drugs is also indicated. This makes it easier for the doctor, who, having received the results, can accurately prescribe antibiotic therapy.

Now you know how to take a urine culture during pregnancy, and this important test will no longer be a problem for you. Prepare carefully, following all recommendations for collecting urine, and with peace of mind take the container for analysis to the laboratory.

Video "How a bacteriological culture is given"

The female body during pregnancy is prone to various diseases, since the immune system is too weakened. The bright prospects of bearing and giving birth to a healthy baby can collapse due to the appearance of infection, bacteria of various origins. In this regard, doctors prescribe a huge number of tests, one of which is a seeding tank.

What is a smear culture tank

Bacteriological culture is an analysis to determine the provoking factor and how large it is to a particular drug.

This research method is widely used in medicine.

Almost any liquid biological material can become a substance for study. Collection from the genitals is preferable.

Based on the results, a correct and successful treatment can be prescribed.

Research Objectives

In the female reproductive system, the balance of the acidic environment plays an important role. It consists of protective microbes that prevent infections from entering.

Under the influence of negative factors, pathogenic bacteria multiply, to a huge amount and exceed the indicators. A chain reaction of inflammation occurs.

A smear culture during pregnancy is prescribed in order to identify harmful bacteria. The doctor takes a smear from the genital mucosa, since then the most accurate results are obtained.

The bacteria are placed in a comfortable environment for their development and examined under a microscope.

Bacteriological culture plays a huge role in the detection of infectious diseases. Research methods may differ, but the goal is the same: to obtain indications, to identify pathogens without impurities.

Indications for analysis

What is the sowing tank assigned for? The biological material of pregnant women can be examined routinely at the appointed time at the discretion of the gynecologist. The fence is made from.

Also prescribed for some indicators:

• when a woman plans to become a mother in the near future;
• with inflammation of the female genital organs and
• with questionable results of the past smear;
• in cases where the uterus is constantly exposed to infection.

The various visible manifestations of infectious diseases are also taken into account. For example, unpleasant vaginal discharge, itching, burning, irritation.

With this diagnostic method, you can establish why the menstrual cycle is delayed.

For pregnant women, an analysis is prescribed if there is a suspicion of a genitourinary infection, or in order to prevent it.

How the research is done

Tank culture from the cervical canal during pregnancy is carried out quite often. With normal gestation, this occurs at 30 weeks.

If there are specific complaints or there have been miscarriages before, infection of the fetus in the womb, and so on, a smear is taken for medical purposes.

The collection of material is performed by a midwife or nurse from the antenatal clinic.

In this case, preparation for sowing tank includes:

• exclusion of water hygiene procedures;
• you can not douche and use antiseptics;
• do not insert candles and other medications;
• if, when planning, the procedure coincided with menstruation, then a smear cannot be taken, it is taken 2 days after the complete end of menstruation;
• tank analysis is not taken immediately after;
• any treatment that includes antibiotics with drugs interferes with reliable results.

The patient is placed on a gynecological chair. The health care provider inserts a speculum into the vagina and then takes a swab using a sterile probe with a small loop.

The procedure is absolutely painless and safe for the child.

What is indicated in the results

The female genital organs contain many microorganisms in their flora. Some of them are not dangerous, and some are not the norm for beneficial bearing.

Normal tests should show the presence of: lactobacilli, bifidobacteria. Other microorganisms that are inherent in the intestine should not be identified, except in a single amount.

If the culture showed a large accumulation of them, this indicates that the genitourinary system is inflamed.

Standards

The following indicators are considered normal results:

• in the cervical canal no more than 30 units of leukocytes;
• in the vagina 3 times less;
• up to 5 units should be in the urethra;
• squamous epithelium can range from 5 to 10 units.

Harmful bacteria that oppress the body must be completely absent.

What do deviations mean?

The results do not always show normal values. Bad tank seeding during pregnancy is not uncommon.

Possible treatment options are considered depending on the pathology identified.

The absence of squamous epithelium indicates a decrease in estrogen, an excess of these components indicates inflammation.

Yeast-like fungi indicate characteristic diseases, such as staphylococcus aureus in the cervical canal in pregnant women.

Abundant mucous discharge also speaks of inflammatory processes.

In connection with the detection of any deviations from the norms, additional procedures are assigned. A pregnant woman is tested for the study of vaginal discharge.

First of all, variants of harmful bacteria obtained by sex are considered.

Treatment is prescribed based on the timing of pregnancy.

The preferred treatment option during this period is topical antibiotics. Medicines should not adversely affect the fetus.

In the second trimester, more radical methods are allowed, but in case of urgent need.

Important! There are infections that do not manifest their existence in the body. That is, they develop in a latent form and affect the development of the child while in the womb. Therefore, even without apparent reasons, it is advisable to pass this analysis.

Bacteria quality and growth

The results of the indications are based on the possibility of the rapid development of harmful microorganisms.

The following options are possible:

• first degree. This is when there is an insignificant growth of bacteria and only relative to their environment;
• the next step is about a dozen colonies in another solid medium;
• at the third stage, there is an increase to 100 colonies;
• in the last stage, more than 100 colonies of the same type are observed.

The primary two degrees of reproduction of microorganisms indicate clogging in the microflora, and the latter show inflammation.

These changes do not exclude the possibility of development associated with an interesting position of a woman during which hormonal changes occur, immunity falls, and medications are used.

The ingress of infection into the body and its rapid reproduction can bring not only physical discomfort to the expectant mother in the form of itching, burning and discharge. For this reason, miscarriages, infection of the child during the passage through the birth canal and many other troubles occur.

In order for the pregnancy to pass successfully, take care of your health in advance.

Site-specific site

Video: smear culture during pregnancy

Bacteriological culture of urine (or tank culture) is necessary to identify and identify the causative agents of urinary infections, with further determination of the sensitivity of harmful bacteria to antibiotics.

The sowing tank during pregnancy is surrendered twice - when registering and before childbirth (somewhere at 36 weeks of pregnancy). If leukocytes and / or protein are found in the general analysis of urine, as well as in diseases of the kidneys and bladder, the delivery of urine to the tank is more often prescribed.

In the treatment of urological infectious diseases, a second urine culture tank is prescribed for control a week after the withdrawal of the antibiotic or uroseptic.

Urine collection container

Why do I need to take a urine culture tank during pregnancy?

Urine culture is one of the most important tests during pregnancy, therefore it is included in the list of mandatory tests during pregnancy. Even with a good general analysis of urine, with the help of a culture tank, it is possible to find a chronic or latent (asymptomatic) form of one or another infectious disease of the urinary-renal system. It is better to prevent the development of the disease than to treat an advanced stage of the disease, at the risk of giving birth to an unhealthy child or even losing it.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs in approximately 6% of pregnant women with a normal urinalysis. In such analyzes, a significant increase in Escherichia coli (Escherichia coli), Enterococcus faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis), Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus), Candida-type fungi and others is most often found.

In the absence or untimely treatment, the infection spreads further, affecting the kidneys. Then pyelonephritis begins - inflammation of the kidneys of bacterial etiology.

Pyelonephritis can occur under two conditions: 1) bacteria spread from the site of infection further, reaching the kidneys; 2) the number of pathogenic bacteria, which are present in every organism in small numbers, begins to increase under conditions favorable for reproduction, for example, with a decrease in immunity "plus" stagnation of urine.

Pyelonephritis during pregnancy most often occurs due to:

• a decrease in the tone of the ureters and an increase in their length and width under the influence of pregnancy hormones, which can lead to stagnation of urine, where pathogenic microorganisms begin to develop;
• enlargement of the uterus, which can lead to compression of the urinary tract (especially often this picture is observed in pregnant women with a narrow pelvis), which also causes stagnation of urine;
• hormonal changes during pregnancy, which can lead to the expansion of the ovarian veins, compressing the ureter, thereby disrupting the outflow of urine, etc.

Pyelonephritis can cause intrauterine infection of the fetus, spontaneous abortion, and in the third trimester, the cause of premature birth. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out treatment on time in order to preserve the health of the baby. During pregnancy, a gentle antibiotic is usually prescribed for the treatment of pyelonephritis, for example, Amoxiclav or Monural, in combination with an antispasmodic, sedative collection, vitamins of group B, PP and C.

How to properly collect urine for analysis on the culture tank?

Often the test results are distorted due to improper collection of urine. Prepare a sterile, dry container with a tightly screwed cap for collection of analyzes (preferably transparent). Special jars for collecting urine tests can be purchased at pharmacies for almost a penny price.

Immediately before the collection of urine itself, it is necessary to carefully conduct the toilet of the external genital organs using toilet soap. It is recommended for pregnant women to cover the entrance to the vagina with a piece of sterile cotton wool when collecting urine, so that nothing can be brought into the urine collection from the genital tract. Be sure to wash your hands too to avoid accidentally transferring bacteria from your hands.

For the study, it is necessary to collect an average portion of morning urine (released immediately after waking up) in an amount of at least 70 ml. To do this, you must skip the first and last stream of urine when urinating. Those. start urinating, then hold back the flow and substitute the jar, continue urinating into the jar, by the end of the process stop the flow again, set the jar aside by screwing the lid on, and stop urinating.

The urine analysis must be submitted to the laboratory within 1.5-2 hours after its collection.

Remember that for a day or two before the urine test, it is not recommended to eat foods that can stain urine, for example, beets and carrots, as well as diuretics and other drugs that can affect the test result.

Please note that excessive physical activity can increase the concentration of protein in the urine, therefore, the day before the test, reduce physical activity to a minimum.

Decoding urine culture tank during pregnancy

In the body of a healthy person, all kinds of pathogenic microbes and bacilli are present, but in small quantities. Treatment is necessary only if their growth increases, since the reproduction of harmful microorganisms entails the appearance of various kinds of diseases.

Refusal of treatment threatens with serious consequences not only for her own health, but also for the health of the baby, which the woman wears under her heart. Therefore, during pregnancy, a urine culture tank must be prescribed.

In the results of the urine culture tank, the presence ("+") or absence ("-") of the growth of harmful microorganisms is noted. If the growth of bacteria is still detected, then the laboratory assistant immediately conducts a study to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to different types of antibiotics - an antibiogram.

Measurement value of the number of microorganisms - CFU / ml.

CFU (colony-forming units) is one cell of a microbe, which over time will turn into a colony of such cells.

And if a gynecologist says that a pregnant woman has a bad urine culture tank, then this means that an increase in infectious agents has been detected. Treatment is carried out with antibiotics, and not with Canephron alone or cranberry juice. In addition to antibiotic therapy, other drugs may be prescribed.
Usually, with a bad urine culture tank, an ultrasound of the kidneys and a smear from the urethra are additionally prescribed to determine the disease and prescribe its correct treatment.

During pregnancy, a woman is even more vulnerable than usual to various diseases. These include infections of various origins, including sexually transmitted infections. For this reason, doctors prescribe a sowing tank for all patients during pregnancy.

Bacterial culture is a laboratory study in which bacteria are grown in special nutrient formulations under specific temperature conditions that are favorable for the development of a particular microorganism. The analysis of tank seeding during pregnancy allows you to determine what types of microbes are in the material, whether there are pathogenic ones among them and what is their number.

This test also helps determine which drugs are most susceptible to microbes. This allows you to choose an effective treatment strategy. In order for the result to be reliable, it is necessary, even before the start of the study, to learn how to donate a culture tank during pregnancy in order to comply with the necessary conditions for complete sterility.

Urine culture during pregnancy

As a rule, urine culture must be taken twice during pregnancy. The first time - when registering, and the second - for a period of 36 weeks. If indicated, more studies may be required during pregnancy. Doctors present similar requirements to patients with diseases of the bladder and kidneys, as well as when leukocytes and protein are found in the general analysis of urine.

Before collecting the material, it is necessary to carry out all the required hygiene procedures. To pass the analysis, it is necessary to purchase a sterile container, collect the first morning urine in it and urgently (within an hour) deliver it to the laboratory for research. For the reliability of the analysis, it is required to follow the order of urine collection.

The decoding of the urine culture tank during pregnancy is carried out by a laboratory assistant and is explained in detail to the patient by the attending physician. Trying to do it yourself is not worth it, because these indications are intended specifically for the doctor, and not for the patient.

Tank culture from the cervical canal

Doctors prescribe to do during pregnancy to all patients in whom the picture of other tests is not very clear. Often, this type of examination is prescribed for women planning a pregnancy in advance. Perhaps, after 9 months of bearing a child, the study will need to be repeated.

There is no need to worry about this, because this analysis is completely harmless for both the mother and the child, even despite the fact that the material for him is taken from the cervix. In fact, the cervical canal is quite long and elastic, and the 0.5-1.5 cm on which the instrument must be immersed is very far from the baby's location in the uterus.

Tank culture smear during pregnancy

A smear culture tank during pregnancy also requires certain rules to be followed in order to obtain the correct result. To collect material, you need to refrain from sexual intercourse the day before the procedure, and also refuse to use any vaginal drugs and deodorants. In addition, it is better to refrain from urinating 2 hours before the test. The smear material is taken from the cervix and vagina.

Usually, the swab is not taken with a gauze swab or sterile spatula. Then the biomaterial is placed in nutrient media. There, microorganisms grow from 3 to 7 days and form colonies. In this study, colony-forming units (CFU) are counted and the resistance of microorganisms to various drugs is observed.