is a positive culture an indication for antibiotics use?

Answer 1

In short, a positive culture is a first step in treatment with antibiotics, but is by no means the only consideration.

If the positive culture is for a bacteria (not a virus, fungus, or parasite), then antibiotic treatment should be considered.

There are many situations when, even though a culture is positive for a bacteria, treatment with antibiotics is still not indicated. One example of this would be for normal cases of Salmonella. Treatment with antibiotics can increase the risk of long-term carriage in the system, so it usually makes sense only to treat of the person cannot fight the disease off on their own.

Another issue is with what is called the "Jarisch-Herxheimer" reaction, when the treatment with antibiotic kills a bacteria that produces a toxin, resulting in a lot of toxing being released into the body at once. This was the concern with E. coli O157:H7 for a long time - many doctors would not treat with antibiotics because they were concerned they would create a kindey problem called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This has not really been borne out in the real world, but is still a concern with a lot of other organisms.

Another concern is that the appropriate antibiotic must be prescribed. A positive culture is the first step in treating a bacterial infection. The first lab test performed on positive culture is a sensitivity panel, where the organism's ability to fight off a particular type of antibiotic is tested. There is no reason to treat with a drug that will not work.

Other considerations include the person's allergies; some drugs should not be used with some people. Also, the site of infection, and the actual organism itself. Many positive cultures are for normal bacteria that can be found living in harmony with your system, normally inhabiting you skin, intestines, or respiratory tree. Sometimes the cultures show organisms that indicate contamination of the speciment, and in that case, it is also not indicate.

Answer 2

Assuming you mean positive culture (taken from patient) of bacteria, then yes, antibiotics are indicated because a positive culture means that this particular type of bacteria is present in the culture, and therefore, in the patient. It's also important to get a culture because not all antibiotics are effective agaiinst all bacteria. You want to make sure you give the right antibiotic for the right bacterial infection.

Antibiotics are not used to treat viruses. Viruses are often not cultured. Viral culture for diagnostic purposes is too difficult and expensive to be used routinely. But, if necessary, appropriate antiviral meds. are given.

Funguses also do not respond to antibiotics. If fungus is cultured, then the appropriate anti-fungal is given.

Same is true of parasites, i.e. malaria, which are often diagnosed microscopically, and treated appropriately.

Answer 3

Depends on what the culture is for. Antibiotics are not used for everything, only bacterias.
If the culture was viral, no antibiotics.

Answer 4

Yes. It means an infection is present and needs to be treated.

Answer 5

In general, yes.