Infection control: validity and reliability in wound swabbing

Wound infection is initially identified by the recognition of clinical signs and symptoms such as pus and cellulitis. Wounds are, however, cultured in order to establish the causative organism and ensure appropriate treatment. A 'gold standard' method for wound sampling has not been established although the literature details wound swabbing and looks at the variations in practice within this method. A number of procedural issues are raised which prompt the need for further study to eliminate these variables and reach consensus as to how to achieve a meaningful result, thereby increasing the validity and reliability.