Culture and Sensitivity - ET Tip Test

A culture test is nothing but making a synthetic medium for bacteria to develop and check the growth and also testing with suitable medication to it. ET tip test shortly refers Endotracheal tip test.

The patients who undergo open heart surgery are likely to get respiratory infections. This infection may even end up in ICU. The effective way to test the bacteria and check its sensitivity to the medicine is using the culture test. This test is effective for ventilator- associated pneumonia in neonates. This test process requires endotracheal aspiration.

The Endotracheal tip aspiration process is an In-patient process. The Sputum is collected from the Endotracheal region. The Endotracheal tip method requires sedation to the patients. For this test, fasting is necessary. This test is scheduled in the morning. Sedation becomes in-effective in case of hydration or food intake. It might end up in vomiting. Patient must be put to deep sleep. The previous medication has to be discussed with the physician. Any alcoholic consumption must also be notified to the technician.

This test is a life saver method. Up to 22% of open heart surgery patients face this issue. It is the effective method to use on them. The medication will be tested on culture test, so the patient is free from side effects. This method is used to detect the Sepsis in neonates.

The patient's mouth is wide opened. Saliva is removed from the mouth by means of an oral suction tube. The tongue tip is pressed and the tracheal area is put to visibility. The tracheal tip is inserted along with tube into the endotracheal area. The tracheal tube has measurements on it. Using the measurement we can estimate the tube has reached the trachea or not. The suction is applied on the other end of the tube so the ET tip can draw out some tracheal fluid. Once enough tracheal tube is drawn out. The sample is sent to the culture and sensitivity test.