What is a sputum culture?A sputum culture is a test that checks for bacteria or another type of organism that may be causing an infection in your lungs or the airways leading to the lungs. Sputum, also known as phlegm, is a thick type of mucus made in your lungs. If you have an infection or chronic illness affecting the lungs or airways, it can make you cough up sputum. Show
Sputum is not the same as spit or saliva. Sputum contains cells from the immune system that help fight the bacteria, fungi, or other foreign substances in your lungs or airways. The thickness of sputum helps trap the foreign material. This allows cilia (tiny hairs) in the airways to push it through the mouth and be coughed out. Sputum can be one of several different colors. The colors can help identify the type of infection you may have or if a chronic illness has become worse:
Other names: respiratory culture, bacterial sputum culture, routine sputum culture What is it used for?A sputum culture is most often used to:
A sputum culture is often done with another test called a Gram stain. A Gram stain is a test that checks for bacteria at the site of a suspected infection or in body fluids such as blood or urine. It can help identify the specific type of infection you may have. Why do I need a sputum culture?You may need this test if you have symptoms of pneumonia or another serious infection of the lungs or airways. These include:
What happens during a sputum culture?Your health care provider will need to get a sample of your sputum. During the test:
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?You may need to rinse your mouth out with water before the sample is taken. If you will be getting a bronchoscopy, you may be asked to fast (not eat or drink) for one to two hours before the test. Are there any risks to the test?There is no risk to providing a sputum sample into a container. If you had a bronchoscopy, your throat may feel sore after the procedure. What do the results mean?If your results were normal, it means no harmful bacteria or fungi were found. If your results were not normal, it may mean you have some kind of bacterial or fungal infection. Your provider may need to do more tests to find the specific type of infection you have. The most common types of harmful bacteria found in a sputum culture include those that cause:
An abnormal sputum culture result may also mean a flare-up of a chronic condition, such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Is there anything else I need to know about a sputum culture?Sputum may be referred to as phlegm or mucus. All terms are correct, but sputum and phlegm only refer to the mucus made in the respiratory system (lungs and airways). Sputum (phlegm) is a type of mucus. Mucus can also be made elsewhere in the body, such as the urinary or genital tract. References
What will you do if you see pink tinged sputum?Treatments for blood-tinged sputum can include:. oral antibiotics for infections like bacterial pneumonia.. antiviral medications, like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), to reduce the duration or severity of a viral infection.. cough suppressants for a prolonged cough.. drinking more water, which can help flush out remaining sputum.. Which Heart failure causes pink frothy sputum?LEFT SIDED HEART FAILURE
YOU FEEL SHORT OF BREATH, TIRED, AND HAVE A COUGH (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT). IN SOME CASES, PATIENTS MAY BEGIN TO COUGH UP A PINK, FROTHY SPUTUM.
What is the Colour of sputum in case of congestive cardiac failure?Congestive heart failure (CHF).
This happens when your heart isn't effectively pumping blood to your body. In addition to pink or red-tinged sputum, you may also experience shortness of breath.
What does pink mucus from lungs mean?Red or pink phlegm can be a more serious warning sign. Red or pink indicates that there is bleeding in the respiratory tract or lungs. Heavy coughing can cause bleeding by breaking the blood vessels in the lungs, leading to red phlegm. However, more serious conditions can also cause red or pink phlegm.
|