Culture - colonic tissue biopsy

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Colon culture

Colonoscopy

Colonic tissue culture

The colon has a high number of well-characterized bacteria termed "bowel flora." The growth of these organisms in culture from a colonic biopsy does not mean there is an infection. These organisms are part of the normal flora present in the gut.

The detection of certain organisms in a colonic biopsy culture is considered abnormal. This includes certain bacteria, such as salmonella, shigella, Clostridium difficile, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and others. Parasites such as schistosomiasis and viruses such as cytomegalovirus are other examples of pathogenic organisms that may be detected.

Review Date: 02/10/2006
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, BEth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.