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How should I collect and store a poo (stool) sample?
InfoMed HEALTH
You should: collect your poo (stool) sample in a completely clean (sterile) container store the container in a fridge in a sealed plastic bag if you can't hand it in straight away Collecting a stool sample Your GP or another healthcare professional, such as a nurse, should explain how to collect theRead more
You should:
Collecting a stool sample
Your GP or another healthcare professional, such as a nurse, should explain how to collect the sample. It should be collected in a clean, dry screw-top container.
Your doctor or a member of staff at the hospital will give you a plastic (specimen) container to use, although you can use any clean container as long as you can seal it.
Try not to collect pee (urine) or water from the toilet along with the poo, but don’t worry if you do. If you need to pee, do this first before collecting the poo.
To collect the sample:
Follow any other instructions your doctor has given you.
Storing a stool sample
Your sample of poo must be fresh – if it is not, the bacteria in it can multiply. This means the levels of bacteria in the stool sample won’t be the same as the levels of bacteria in your digestive system. If the levels of bacteria don’t match, the test results may not be accurate.
Your sample should be handed in as soon as possible, as sometimes it can’t be analysed after being refrigerated – your doctor will tell you if this is the case.
If you can’t hand your sample in immediately, find out how long it can be kept in the fridge. Your GP or the healthcare professional who requested the test will be able to tell you. If you can store it in the fridge, put the container in a sealed plastic bag first.
What are stool samples used for?
Your GP or another healthcare professional may ask you for a stool sample to help them diagnose or rule out a particular health condition.
Poo contains bacteria and other substances that are in the digestive system.
By testing the levels of these substances and bacteria in your poo, it’s possible to work out what’s happening in your digestive system.
See lessHow should I collect and store a pee (urine) sample?
InfoMed HEALTH
You should: collect your pee (urine) sample in a completely clean (sterile) container store it in a fridge in a sealed plastic bag if you can't hand it in straight away Collecting a urine sample Your doctor or another healthcare professional should give you a container and explain how you should colRead more
You should:
Collecting a urine sample
Your doctor or another healthcare professional should give you a container and explain how you should collect the urine sample.
You can collect a urine sample at any time of day, unless your GP or practice nurse advises you otherwise.
The types of urine sample you might be asked for include a random specimen, first morning specimen or timed collection.
To collect a urine sample you should:
Follow any other instructions your doctor has given you.
What is a mid-stream urine sample?
A mid-stream urine sample means you don’t collect the first or last part of urine that comes out. This reduces the risk of the sample being contaminated with bacteria from:
Storing a urine sample
If you can’t hand your urine sample in within 1 hour, you should put the container in a sealed plastic bag then store it in the fridge at around 4C. Do not keep it for longer than 24 hours.
The bacteria in the urine sample can multiply if it is not kept in a fridge. If this happens, it could affect the test results.
What urine samples are used for?
Your GP or another healthcare professional may ask for a urine sample to help them diagnose or rule out certain health conditions.
Urine contains waste products that are filtered out of the body. If the sample contains anything unusual, it may indicate an underlying health problem.
Urine tests are most commonly done to check:
- for infections – such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia in men
- if you are passing any protein in your urine as a result of kidney damage – this is known as an ACR test
See lessCan a hospital patient with MRSA infection have visitors?
InfoMed HEALTH
Yes. If you're in hospital with an MRSA infection, you can still have visitors. However, it's a good idea to warn vulnerable people at risk of MRSA, so they can take special precautions. Visitors at risk of MRSA MRSA does not usually affect healthy people, including pregnant women, children and babiRead more
Yes. If you’re in hospital with an MRSA infection, you can still have visitors. However, it’s a good idea to warn vulnerable people at risk of MRSA, so they can take special precautions.
Visitors at risk of MRSA
MRSA does not usually affect healthy people, including pregnant women, children and babies.
Some visitors, however, are more at risk of MRSA. This includes people with:
Read more about the people most at risk from MRSA infection.
How is MRSA spread?
If you have MRSA, it can be spread to a visitor if you have contact with their skin, especially if it’s sore or broken, or if they handle personal items you have used, such as towels, bandages or razors. Visitors can also catch MRSA from contaminated surfaces or hospital devices or items.
Read more about how MRSA is spread.
How to stop visitors catching MRSA
Visitors can reduce the risk of catching MRSA from a hospital patient they are visiting (and the other way around) by:
Remind your visitors to clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol gel. Alcohol gel or hand rub dispensers are often placed near hospital beds and at the entrances to wards and bays or near lifts. Visitors can pick up organisms from the environment around you without even touching you.
If visitors have breaks in their skin, such as a sore or cut, they should keep them covered with a dressing to limit the risk of the MRSA getting into their body.
Read more about preventing the spread of MRSA.
Get advice before visiting other hospital patients
If you have an MRSA infection, get advice from hospital staff before visiting other patients in the hospital.
See lessIs pneumonia contagious?
InfoMed HEALTH
Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It's usually caused by an infection, most commonly bacteria and viruses, which are both contagious. Catching pneumonia The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. People often have small amounts of germs in theiRead more
Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It’s usually caused by an infection, most commonly bacteria and viruses, which are both contagious.
Catching pneumonia
The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. People often have small amounts of germs in their nose and throat that can be passed on through:
Preventing the spread of pneumonia
You can help prevent the spread of a pneumonia by taking some simple hygiene precautions.
These include:
Vaccination
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia.
Vaccination is recommended for:
Find out more about who should have the pneumococcal vaccine.
The pneumococcal vaccine is usually given as part of the routine NHS child vaccination schedule. If you’re unsure if you or your child has been given the vaccine, check with your GP.
See lessWhat infections can used needles or sharps pass on?
InfoMed HEALTH
Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include: hepatitis B hepatitis C HIV Although rare, there's also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). For immediate first aid adviRead more
Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include:
Although rare, there’s also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
For immediate first aid advice if you have injured yourself, see What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?
Needles and sharps
Once someone has used a needle, viruses in their blood may contaminate it. This includes needles used to inject illegal drugs.
Sharps can include other medical supplies, such as syringes, scalpels and lancets, and glass from broken equipment. Blood can also contaminate these.
Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.
People at increased risk
Some people have an increased risk of needle-stick injuries as a result of their job.
These include:
If you injure yourself with a used needle at work, report the incident to your supervisor or manager immediately. There may be procedures in place you need to follow.
If you’re at increased risk of needle-stick injuries because of your job, you may also need to take other preventative measures. For example, you may need to have a hepatitis B vaccination.
Support after an injury
If you have received treatment for a needle-stick injury, you may need some support. For example, counselling may help with any stress the injury has caused. Your employer’s occupational health service can advise you on sick leave.
Read the answers to more questions about accidents, first aid and treatments.
See lessWhat is the risk of infection from someone else’s blood?
InfoMed HEALTH
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs). The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infectedRead more
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infected blood.
Which infections can be passed on?
The most common blood-borne viruses in the UK are:
These viruses can also be found in body fluids other than blood, such as semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Other body fluids such as urine, saliva and sweat only carry a very small risk of infection, unless they contain blood.
However, the presence of blood is not always obvious, and it is possible for someone to have one of these infections without realising it.
Routes of transmission
The chance of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood also depends on how you come into contact with the infected blood. This is known as the route of transmission. The risks associated with different routes of transmission are outlined below.
Higher risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on is highest if your skin is broken or punctured as you come into contact with the infected blood.
For example, if:
Lower risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood is lower if the blood only comes into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or skin that’s already broken.
For example, if someone spits in your face, they may have blood in their saliva and it may get in your eyes, mouth or nose. The infected saliva may also get into an existing cut, graze or scratch.
There is also a lower risk of infection if infected blood comes into contact with skin that is already broken due to a health condition like eczema.
Very low risk of infection
The risk of infection is very low if infected blood comes into contact with unbroken skin.
See lessSidharth, Asim, Rashami, Shehnaaz, Paras- who do you think will win this season Bigg Boss 13? Submit your answer
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