[Carolyn (OP)]

My friend John got the flu about a month ago.  It's finally started clearing up except for the chest congestion.  He went to the doctor earlier this week and they did an xray, which showed a mass in his lower lobe of his lung.  The doctors believe its an infection and have scheduled a biopsy for Monday.  I've never heard of doing a biopsy for an infection, but he said they want to see what type of infection it is so they can determine the best antibiotics to use on him.  He said they have to grow it first and then test the antibiotics on it. 

He's a little anxious as he had a trip to Vegas scheduled this weekend that they've told him to cancel because they don't want him flying because of the possibility of an embolism.  He also has another trip planned in a month and he's worried he won't be able to make that one either.

How long does it take to grow an infection and test antibiotics on it and how serious is this condition?

[chris]

Bacteria, if viable, can be cultured and speciated from an infected site within 24 hours. Antibiotic sensitivities take longer because further subculture in antibiotic-impregnated agar is often necessary.

However, the identity and drug sensitivities of most infectious agents should be known within 48 hours. There are a few exceptions, TB being one of them as this can take a month to grow, but for most common infections the answers are rapidly forthcoming.

Chris

[Carolyn (OP)]

Thanks for the information Chris.  So hopefully, by Wednesday they should know which antibiotics to give him and he will be on the road to recovery.