Rectal Swab

Niknoks when swabbing for MRSA in the UK , its mainly nose and perineum ( space between the anus and genitals) or any wounds, as well as urine or sputum if you suspect that they have it . Its the same for males and females. We don't use rectal swabs for MRSA as Kes008 said it can be used:

The only reason that I have personally ever done this to a patient is to test for VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus). From my understanding there has to actually be a sample of stool to test for C. Diff and not just a swab.

As she said C diff you need a stool sample that takes the shape of the container ( ie liquid not solid).

I had rectal swab for a group b strep test done a few weeks before delivering my child. But I don't think anyone put anything deep inside. Just around the area.

I will admit that I am a brat. I sometimes nose around the e.r. room that we get put into (my friend ends up in the e.r. a lot for her various medical issues). In one, they have on the right hand corner of the room a bunch of equipment and things in boxes. WELL my thinking is if they're gonna have it out like that, why can't I look? They have disposable speculums in a box and then they had these GIANT swabby things. I mean the "stick" was really long and the swab itself (not sterile wrapped) was humungus! We both were wondering where the heck they thought they would stick THAT and what do they swab for with it?!?! (probably vaginally, was our guess)

The insertion of anything into my anus always gets my attention.

You are frequently swabbed in UK for MRSA. As another poster says this would be nose , throat and groin. Groin is defined variously but best is between anus and scrotum. If this is to be done properly you have to take your pants down or off and usually lie down. Last time I was done, by 2 (very) mature healthcare assistants. I did establish they had had really no medical training at all, that they had been n the hospital less than 3 months, and had previously worked in 'retail', shelf-filling or sometimes on the cash register

They told me to take everything off below the waist, & lie on couch..Another assistant joined us who was one of their mates. They pulled my shirt up in readiness, and then all three took their time to look at my penis and testicles. .One of them pushed my penis aside-happily they were wearing gloves - & lifted my scrotum and the other swabbed near my anus . I enjoyed the humiliation of being exposed to these 3 low-level people and got a significant erection. They enjoyed that, and smirked at each other and then told me how disgusting it was, how I must have dirty thoughts and that my 'thing' up all stiff like that was disrespecting them ! I humbly acknowledged my fault!! I nearly came in front of them but couldn't quite make it happen.

These unqualified people don't get paid much and look forward to their chance to feel superior by viewing and handling intimate parts.I always reckon that, getting the treatment for free ( in UK ), I shouldn't grudge them their enjoyment.

I have performed this type of swab, and it is not as easy as giving a rectal thermometer because there generally is no lubricant used, The procedure can be a little difficult in the beginning until there is penetration, and then generally the patient relaxes a bit more.

I've had it as part of an STI screen twice within the last year. First time I had swabs taken from my mouth, vagina and anus. As I was already on my back while they checked my genitals it was just done with my legs apart and the doctor spread me with her hand a bit.

The second time was the same doctor but by then they accepted that I don't have vahinal sex (and they knew the screen had come back totally clear the first time). I wasn't getting a detailed genital exam so it was a quick swab of the mouth while I was sitting after giving blood sample. Then asked to lower trousers and underwear to my knees as I bent over the table. After that she just took a quick look at the front to check externally.

Neither of these times have hurt. I'm used to taking bigger than a swab in there.

I get rectal swabs as part of my yearly physical with no issues receiving them. It just depends which doctor in my clinic performs it. The young doctor uses like a long cotton swab however, the older doctors she uses a small skinny bristle brush like stick and really jams it up there.

Is having a rectal swab becoming more routine these days for male and female patients? It does seem easier than doing the stool sample thing.

When I worked at an OB/GYN I saw it done almost always in the last trimester for strep B.

I've had it as part of an STI screen twice within the last year. First time I had swabs taken from my mouth, vagina and anus. As I was already on my back while they checked my genitals it was just done with my legs apart and the doctor spread me with her hand a bit.

The second time was the same doctor but by then they accepted that I don't have vahinal sex (and they knew the screen had come back totally clear the first time). I wasn't getting a detailed genital exam so it was a quick swab of the mouth while I was sitting after giving blood sample. Then asked to lower trousers and underwear to my knees as I bent over the table. After that she just took a quick look at the front to check externally.

Neither of these times have hurt. I'm used to taking bigger than a swab in there.

I see you are a trans man.

Very interesting... never had that exam on me...

I have had many rectal swabs done in the past, this is the doctor can tell if you have blood in your stool.

Kid: Oh? In my case for that kind of test I was asked to put a bit of poop into a small bottle and hand it to the lab...

I used to have swabs taken from both my mouth and anus regularly.

It was to test for STIs when I was doing sex work.

It never bothered me and was always done professionaly by one of 3 different nurses who worked in the clinic and who I got to know and trust completely.

It never hurt or felt uncomfortable. I used to have it done about every 2 or 3 months and thankfully the results were always clear as I was very careful

Interesting comments. All my tests for occult blood have been associated with a DRE and the doctor just wipes her finger on a card and has the nurse test that sample.

I've never had this done but I don't think I'd mind it.

Old school nurses might do that for a complete MRSA-screening 😄

Here's the doctor's point of view. I have to wonder what the look on the patient's face is as the swab enters. Has anyone else ever had this done?

http://67.media.tumblr.com/2992175802fd0ebef56125ef6a1af829/tumblr_ogrvxyNwHS1uydo5xo1_1280.jpg

I always wondered how those were done. I am not sure I would want that!

I used to have one done about every 2 months, when I was doing sex work. I had to have a full check over on everything every couple of months. Whenever I had it done the nurse always used plenty of lube, and they were all very experienced in doing their job. You really never felt anything, and they always did everything in a very relaxed and friendly way.

It never bothered me, and I have probably had it done literally hundreds, possibly thousands of times

Cracks me up, how uncommon they are in the Western world according to most responses. Considering the rectal temp popularity. I've never ever as far as I can remember from two years old onward had my temp taken rectally or even orally. It was always underarm.

The rectal swabs however during my distant Soviet youth... Had one done as a kid on a regular basis several times a year. I even recall they were mandatory before going back to (elementary and middle) school when it started in the fall. Especially if your family returned from vacationing in the (Ukranian) South e.g. the Black Sea. Whatever the (Northern) authorities were afraid of at the moment: a Southern outbreak of cholera, dysentery, parasites, or something else. Of course one got them upon being admitted into a hospital or even complaining of a stomach/intestinal problem. Much simpler than the stool sample.

Was quite humiliating since there was little regard for privacy. Several kids in line (at least they separated boys and girls) when performed at school, and one rather mean nurse. Pants and underwear down, bend over, receive that thing in your bum, pull the pants and underwear up, and go on your way trying not to think who saw you butt naked through the room's windows or any of additional medical personnel present. Wasn't that much better at the local pediatric clinic since anyone could walk into that room at any moment.

Let me also describe what it was, so there is no confusion about "lube" or other pleasantries. First off, it's not a frigging q-tip. It's a wooden stick appr. 20cm long and 5mm thick with a pretty thick cotton ball wrapped around one end: a finger-wide. Inserted without any lube or another contaminant appr. 5cm into your hiney. You'd definitely feel it.

I used to have one done about every 2 months, when I was doing sex work. I had to have a full check over on everything every couple of months. Whenever I had it done the nurse always used plenty of lube, and they were all very experienced in doing their job. You really never felt anything, and they always did everything in a very relaxed and friendly way.

It never bothered me, and I have probably had it done literally hundreds, possibly thousands of times

THOUSANDS of times??? actually not even hundreds.

Let's do some simple math.

Let's say you did sex work for THIRTY YEARS from your twenties to fifties.

That has 360 months.

A test every TWO months would mean at most 180 tests over 30 years.

Not the first time I've read on Zity about rectal swabs being done in Russia and Soviet countries. I have done stool samples by myself in a cup which isnt enjoyable. I wish a nurse had just taken the sample directly with a swab.

I had this done when I was pregnant. He swabbed my vagina then dragged it down my perineum and inserted it a tiny bit into my anus and kinda twisted it. It literally went in maybe a cm.

Ok Susie, yes it probably is just hundreds of times. Just a figure of speech I was using really. Lol

I have never had a rectal swab done as part of a medical procedure. I don't think I'd have any objections.

I had a rectal swab done yesterday by a male NP when testing for STI’s. Had me take off my clothes and put on a disposable gown then lay on the exam table and roll over on my left side. He spread my cheeks and did a visual exam and then took the rectal swab. Didn’t hurt at all.

@MedFet_AL any other parts of that exam other than the swab?

@MedFet_AL any other parts of that exam other than the swab?

He also took a throat swab which wasn’t bad at all actually. He was able to get the swab before I could even gag! Haha

After the rectal swab he told me he was finished and he was going to step out and I could get dressed. Then a nurse came to draw blood.

Never had the experience. How far was swab inserted?

Honestly no clue how far the swab was inserted. It wasn’t super uncomfortable but I felt it. Seemed to take less than 5 seconds.