Pleural fluid culture

A procedure called thoracentesis is performed to get a sample of pleural fluid. The sample is sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope for signs of infection. The sample is also placed in a special dish (culture) to support the growth of microorganisms. It is then watched to see if bacteria or any other…

No special preparation is needed before the test. A chest x-ray will be performed before and after the thoracentesis procedure. Do not cough, breathe deeply, or move during the procedure to avoid injuring the lung.

For thoracentesis, you sit on the edge of a chair or bed with your head and arms resting on a table. Your health care provider cleans the skin around the insertion site. Numbing medicine (anesthetic) is injected into the skin. A needle is placed through the skin and muscles of the chest wall into the pleural space. As…

Your provider may order this test if you have signs of a certain infection or if a chest x-ray or CT scan of the chest shows you have too much fluid in the space around the lungs.

A normal result means no bacteria or fungi were seen in the test sample. A normal value is no growth of any bacteria. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Abnormal results may indicate: Empyema (collection of pus in the pleural space) Lung abscess (collection of pus in a lung) Pneumonia Tuberculosis

Risks of thoracentesis are: Collapsed lung ( pneumothorax ) Excessive loss of blood Fluid reaccumulation Infection Pulmonary edema Respiratory distress Serious complications are uncommon

Blok BK. Thoracentesis. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 9. Parta M. Pleural effusion and empyema. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's…