Bacteriology

These are bacteriology standards for the laboratory covering receipt of the sample in the laboratory to the issue of a report.

The search strategy for these documents are available on request by emailing: [email protected].

B 1 - Investigation of ear infections and associated specimens

Details

Issue date: 4 June 2014

Issue number: 9

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Investigation of ear swabs and associated specimens’ to ‘Investigation of ear infections and associated specimens’.

B 4 - Investigation of superficial mouth samples

Details

Issue date: 13 June 2022 

Issue number: 7.2

Please note that the title has been changed from 'Investigation of mouth swabs' to ‘Investigation of superficial mouth samples’.

B 5 - Investigation of nasal samples

Details

Issue date: 12 January 2015 

Issue number: 7.1

Please note that B 5 'Investigation of nose swab' and B 19 'Investigation of sinus aspirate' have merged to become ‘Investigation of nasal samples’.

B 6 - Investigation of whooping cough

Details

Issue date: 11 May 2018 

Issue number: 9

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis’ to 'Investigation of whooping cough’.

B 9 - Investigation of throat related specimens

Details

Issue date: 15 April 2015 

Issue number: 9

Please note that B9 ‘Investigation of throat swabs’ and P3 'Recommendations for screening specimens for Corynebacterium species' have merged to become ‘Investigation of throat related specimens’.

B 10 - Processing of faeces for Clostridium difficile

Details

Issue date 19 September 2018

Issue number 1.7

There has been a delay in the review of this document because it is being reviewed as part of a syndromic approach. It is hoped that this will be reviewed and updated accordingly as soon as possible.

Updated Department of Health guidelines regarding testing for Clostridium difficile were issued in May 2012.

Please note: RUCs for this document is not available.

The syndromic algorithm S 7: Gastroenteritis provides supporting information related to this UK SMI.

B 11 - Swabs from skin and superficial soft tissue infections

Details

Issue date: 19 December 2018 

Issue number: 6.5

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Investigation of skin, superficial and non-surgical wound swabs’ to ‘Investigation of swabs from skin and superficial soft tissue infections’.

B 14 - Investigation of pus and exudates

Details

Issue date: 22 November 2016

Issue number: 6.2

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Investigation of abscesses and deep seated wound infections’ to ‘Investigation of pus and exudates’.

B 17 - Tissues and biopsies from deep-seated sites and organs

Details

Issue date: 5 January 2018 

Issue number: 6.3

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Investigation of tissues and biopsies’ to ‘Investigation of tissues and biopsies from deep seated sites and organs’.

B 27 - Investigation of cerebrospinal fluid

Details

Issue date: 31 May 2017 

Issue number: 6.1

The syndromic algorithm S 5: Meningoencephalitis provides supporting information related to this UK SMI.

B 28 - Investigation of genital tract and associated specimens

Details

Issue date: 26 April 2017

Issue number: 4.6

Please note: RUCs for this document is not available

The following syndromic algorithms provide supporting information related to this UK SMI:

B 37 - Investigation of blood cultures (for organisms other than Mycobacterium species)

Details

Under review

The last full scientific review of this document was completed on 4 November 2014.

Read the associated review of users’ comments.

Note: UK SMI B 37 is currently under review. At the end of the review, this document will be included in the syndromic document ‘UK SMI S 12: Sepsis and systemic or disseminated infections’

The following syndromic algorithms provide supporting information related to this UK SMI

Published 4 November 2014
Last updated 6 July 2022

B 40 - Investigation of specimens for Mycobacterium species

Details

Issue date: 5 October 2020 

Issue number: 7.3

The syndromic algorithm S 2: Pneumonia provides supporting information related to this UK SMI.

B 41 - Investigation of urine

Details

Issue date: 11 January 2019

Issue number: 8.7

The following syndromic algorithms provide supporting information related to this UK SMI:

B 44 - Investigation of orthopaedic implant associated infections

Details

Issue date: 18 August 2021 

Issue number: 2.1

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Investigation of prosthetic joint infection samples’ to ‘Investigation of orthopaedic implant associated infections’.

B 51 - Screening for Neisseria meningitidis

Details

Issue date: 12 March 2014

Issue number: 2

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Screening for Meningococci’ to ‘Screening for Neisseria meningitidis’.

B 55 - Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia

Details

Issue date: 3 October 2019 

issue number: 7

Please note that the title has been changed from 'Investigation of Helicobacter pylori gastric biopsies’ to ‘Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia’.

B 58 - Detection of carriage of group B streptococci

Details

Issue date: 26 June 2018

Issue number: 3.1

Please note that the title has been changed from ‘Detection of carriage of group B streptococci’ to ‘Detection of carriage of group B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae)’.

B 61 - Investigation of specimens for ectoparasites

Details

Issue date: 12 October 2018 

Issue number: 2.2

Please note: RUCs for this document are not available