How do you interpret sputum culture results?

Sputum Culture

1. Clear. This usually means no disease is present, but large amounts of clear sputum may be a sign of lung disease.
2. White or gray. This may also be normal, but increased amounts may mean lung disease.
3. Dark yellow or green. This often means a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia.
4. Brown.
5. Pink.
6. Red.

What type of infection will confirm from sputum test?

A bacterial sputum culture is used to detect and diagnose bacterial lower respiratory tract infections such as bacterial pneumonia or bronchitis. It is typically performed with a Gram stain to identify the bacteria causing a person’s infection.

Can be diagnosed with a positive sputum culture?

If the sputum sample is abnormal, the results are called “positive.” Identifying the bacteria, fungus, or virus may help diagnose the cause of: Bronchitis (swelling and inflammation in the main passages that carry air to the lungs) Lung abscess (collection of pus in the lung) Pneumonia.

What is the clinical significance of sputum analysis?

Clinical diagnostic sputum tests aim to detect the causes of lower respiratory tract infections and some other diseases. It also provides an efficacious tool for monitoring the effectiveness of clinical treatment. Sputum culture is the most common test needed to be performed when the patient has pneumonia.

What is the result of sputum test?

A sputum culture is a test to find germs (such as TB bacteria) that can cause an infection. A sample of sputum is added to a substance that promotes the growth of bacteria. If no bacteria grow, the culture is negative. If bacteria grow, the culture is positive.

Is sputum and phlegm the same thing?

If you’re sick or the passages between your mouth and lungs get irritated by something such as smoke or air pollution, your body makes sputum. It’s also known as phlegm. It’s different from saliva, the thinner fluid your mouth makes to help you eat. When you cough, your body is trying to get rid of that phlegm.

What are the normal results of a sputum culture?

Normal Results In a normal sputum sample there will be no disease-causing germs . Sometimes the sputum culture grows bacteria because the sample was contaminated by bacteria in the mouth.

Why are Sputum cultures performed?

What are the types of sputum cultures?

Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough deeply. A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any phlegm that comes up from your lungs into a special container. The sample is sent to a lab.

What is a sputum sample?

Sputum is mucus and is the name used for the coughed-up material ( phlegm) from the lower airways (trachea and bronchi). In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for naked eye exam, microbiological investigations of respiratory infections, and cytological investigations of respiratory systems.

Normal Results In a normal sputum sample there will be no disease-causing germs . Sometimes the sputum culture grows bacteria because the sample was contaminated by bacteria in the mouth.

A bacterial sputum culture is used to detect and diagnose bacterial lower respiratory tract infections such as bacterial pneumonia or bronchitis. It is typically performed with a Gram stain to identify the bacteria causing a person’s infection.

Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough deeply. A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any phlegm that comes up from your lungs into a special container. The sample is sent to a lab.

Sputum is mucus and is the name used for the coughed-up material ( phlegm) from the lower airways (trachea and bronchi ). In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for naked eye exam, microbiological investigations of respiratory infections, and cytological investigations of respiratory systems.