Gram's Stain Revisited
1995
The Importance of Gram's Stain in Medical Testing
Editorial
Author Information
Author(s): David E. Soper
Primary Institution: Medical College of Virginia
Conclusion
Gram's stain remains a valuable and cost-effective tool for diagnosing infections despite its limitations in sensitivity.
Supporting Evidence
- Gram's stain is still one of the first procedures learned by bacteriology students.
- The CDC recommends Gram's stain for evaluating mucopurulent endocervicitis.
- It is cost-effective at $15 and remains useful in various clinical scenarios.
Takeaway
Gram's stain is a simple test that helps doctors find infections, and even though it isn't perfect, it's still very useful.
Limitations
The Gram's stain has poor sensitivity and requires a high threshold of microorganisms to produce a positive result.
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