When collecting wound drainage samples for culture, which practice is inappropriate?

• A. Cleaning the wound with normal saline before collection
• B. Using sterile technique for collection
• C. Collecting samples from old drainage
• D. Using a new syringe for collection

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that a culture should reflect the wound’s current microbial population. Old drainage may not represent the bacteria actively infecting the wound and can be contaminated by dressing materials, skin flora, or environmental factors, leading to inaccurate results. Therefore collecting from old drainage is inappropriate. Clean the wound with sterile saline to remove surface debris, use sterile technique to prevent introducing new organisms, and use a new syringe to avoid cross-contamination so the culture accurately guides treatment.