Un bacteriological examination or analysis allows you to find and identify bacteria involved in a infection.

Depending on the site of infection, several analyzes are possible:

• bacteriological examination of urine or ECBU
• bacteriological examination of selles (see stalk culture)
• bacteriological examination of cervico-vaginal secretions in women
• bacteriological examination of sperm in humans
• bacteriological examination of bronchial secretions or sputum
• bacteriological examination of throat swabs
• bacteriological examination of skin sores
• bacteriological examination of cerebrospinal fluid (see lumbar puncture)
• bacteriological examination of blood (see blood culture)

This type of examination is not prescribed systematically in case of infection. Most often, faced with an infection of bacterial origin, the doctor prescribes antibiotics empirically, that is to say “at random”, which is sufficient in the majority of cases.

However, several situations may require taking a sample and precise bacteriological analysis:

• infection in an immunocompromised person
• infection that does not heal with antibiotics (and therefore probably resistant to the first antibiotics given)
• nosocomial infection (occurring in hospital)
• potentially serious infection
• collective food poisoning
• doubt about the viral or bacterial nature of the infection (for example in case of angina or pharyngitis)
• diagnosis of certain infections such as tuberculosis
• etc.