Gram stain of urethral discharge

Gram Stain of Urethral Discharge

Urethral discharge is a visible secretion from the urethra and can be a sign of infection. A Gram stain of urethral discharge is a laboratory test that can help identify the cause of the infection. Doing a Gram stain involves examining the sample of urethral discharge under the microscope for the presence of bacteria and fungi.

Preparation

Before performing the Gram stain, you will first need to take a sample of urethral discharge.
Your doctor will use a swab to gently scrape some of the discharge from your urethra.
This sample is then sent to a lab for examination.

Procedure

Once the swab sample of urethral discharge has been taken, it will need to be prepared for Gram staining.
The sample is first smeared on a glass slide.
The slide is then heat-fixed by briefly passing it over a flame.
Next, a drop of special purple dye is added to the slide.
This dye is absorbed by the bacteria present in the sample.
The slide is then washed with a special solution called decolourizing solvent.
This removes the excess dye.
A drop of a special counterstain, typically in a yellow color, is added to the slide.
The slide is washed again and air-dried.
The prepared slide is then examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria.

Types

Gram-positive bacteria: These bacteria turn purple when exposed to the special dye used in the Gram stain and appear as purple rods under the microscope.
Gram-negative bacteria: These bacteria appear pink when exposed to the special dye and appear as pink rods under the microscope.

Risks

Gram staining is generally considered safe with no associated risks.
However, in rare cases, allergy to the dyes or chemicals used in the test can occur.

Why is it done?

Gram staining of urethral discharge, also referred to as wet mount Gram stain, is done to identify the causing organism of a urethral infection.
Identifying the causing organism helps determine the best treatment option, as different bacteria, fungi, and viruses can cause urethral infections.

When to do it?

In general, Gram staining of urethral discharge is done when a person presents with symptoms of a urethral infection, such as a discharge from the urethra.
However, in some cases, symptoms may not be present, so a Gram stain may be used to diagnose a latent infection.