What is stool culture?
Definition Stool culture is a test to identify bacteria in patients with a suspected infection of the digestive tract. A sample of the patient’s feces is placed in a special medium where bacteria is then grown. The bacteria that grow in the culture are identified using a microscope and biochemical tests. Purpose Stool culture is performed to identify bacteria or other organisms in persons with symptoms of gastrointestinal infection, most commonly diarrhea. Identification of the organism is necessary to determine the treatment of the patient’s infection or to trace the cause of an outbreak or epidemic of certain types of diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), doctors are most likely to order a stool culture for patients with any of the following characteristics: AIDS, bloody stools, diarrhea lasting longer than three days, high fever, history of recent travel abroad, or severe dehydration. Precautions Stool culture is performed only if an infection
