VRE Surveillance Culture

• Swab of any area of the body that may be of concern.
• Nasal/Rectal combination swab
• Groin
• Rectal
• Stool

• The nurse or physician will take a swab of the area in question.
• The swab is then quickly transferred to the transport media.
• Specimen is  labeled appropriately and then sent to the laboratory

Admissions/sweeps. Nasal/Rectal Combo:

• Insert swab into the nostril, until white cotton tips is inside the nose.
• Gently rotate ths swab so that all surfaces of the mucosa are touched twice.
• Repeat in the other nostril, using the same swab.
• Proceed with swabbing the rectal area.
• Insert the swab into rectum enough to fecally stain the swab, Place swab into the transport media tube and label with the lab-generated label containing patient information and label nasal/rectal.

Rectal Swab

• Swab around the rectal area.
• Insert the swab into rectum enough to fecally stain the swab.
• Place swab into transport media tube and label with the lab-generated label containing patient information and marked rectal.

Daily

• Specimen should be transported to the laboratory in biohazard bag after collection.
• Specimen should be stored at room temperature in the laboratory (in Microbiology rack) after receipt.