Appendix 4

Specimens not to be cultured anaerobically:

1. Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs

2. Gingival swabs

3. Conjunctival swabs

4. Swabs from auditory canal (except in malignant external otitis)

5. Expectorated sputum

6. Sputum obtained by nasotracheal or orotracheal suction

7. Bronchoscopy specimens not collected by a protected, double-lumen catheter

8. Gastric and small bowel content (except in blind loop syndrome)

9. Large bowel contents, ileostomy, colostomy, faeces (except in Clostridium difficile or C. botulinum infections)

10. Voided and catheterized urines

11. Vaginal and cervical swabs

12. Surface swabs from decubitus ulcers, wounds, eschars and sinus tracts.