Semen:
Semen is the reproductive liquid with a thick consistency produced by a male. It contains sperm and other components made by the male sexual glands.
The Semen for Gram Stain Lab Test is a medical diagnostic test done on a sample of the male semen. It is performed to determine the presence of certain bacteria or disease-causing organisms that lead to various diseases and abnormalities including low sperm count, infertility, and bladder and penile infections and tumors.
It generally gives quick and accurate results which help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis and initiate effective treatment.
What preparations are needed for semen culture?
No special preparation required for Semen Culture. However, some basic instructions should be given:
The patient should not be on any antibiotic treatment when Semen Culture is performed or at least 7-10 days before. Before obtaining a semen sample, the patient has to wash thoroughly the region with clean water only -and avoid any antiseptic that might potentially contaminate the specimen. In every case, there is a risk for false-negative results (i.e. culture may demonstrate the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the semen sample while there are not actually any).
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR BACTERIAL INFECTIONS?
Antibiotics are the main treatment for most bacterial infections. In case of an abscess, incision and drainage of the abscess is necessary to eliminate the infection.
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULT:
- A negative gram stain is often reported as “no organism seen”.
- A positive gram stain results usually include a description of what was seen on the slide.
Sometimes, susceptibility testing is necessary to determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating the infection.
Semen Culture is essential when the man suddenly presents with symptoms of the lower urinary tract and genital system, such as painful ejaculation, haemospermia (presence of blood in the semen), in cases of urinary frequency or urgency, dysuria, etc. Semen culture has to be combined with urine culture, for sometimes the pathogenic bacterium may be detected only in the urine or only in the semen.
