Synonym/Acronym:
N.A.

Common Use:
To identify pathogenic bacterial organisms in the stool as an indicator for appropriate therapeutic interventions to treat organisms such as Clostridium difficile and Escherichia coli.

Specimen:
Fresh, random stool collected in a clean plastic container.

Normal Findings:
(Method: Culture on selective media for identification of pathogens usually to include Salmonella.Shigella,Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Campylobacter; latex agglutination or enzyme immunoassay for Clostridium A and B toxins) Negative: No growth of pathogens. Normal fecal flora is 96% to 99% anaerobes and 1% to 4% aerobes. Normal flora present may include Bacteroides,Candida albicans,Clostridium,Enterococcus,E. coli,Proteus,Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus aureus.