Question

The nurse is collecting sterile sample for culture and sensitivity from a disposable three chamber water-seal drainage system connected to a pleural chest tube. The nurse should obtain the sample from which site on the drainage system?

Answer 1

To collect a sterile sample from a three-chamber water-seal drainage system, it must be done from the designated sampling port using sterile technique to avoid contamination.

Step-by-step explanation:

In collecting a sterile sample for culture and sensitivity from a three chamber water-seal drainage system used in the management of pleural effusions or pneumothorax, the nurse should obtain the sample from the chamber that is designed for sample collection.

Typically, this is not the water seal chamber itself but a separate port that allows for samples to be withdrawn without compromising the sterility or function of the system. Sterile technique must be used throughout the process to avoid contamination. This includes using a sterile syringe and needle, cleansing the port with an appropriate antiseptic, and sending the sample to the lab for bacteriological culture methods without delay.