Question 1

whats a sputum culture?

Accepted Answer

See below: Sputum is the mucus that you cough up.  A culture means that the specimen (in this case sputum) is plated on a plate with growth medium and incubated to test for any bacteria (or fungi).  The purpose is to see if an infection is causing an illness. If bacteria grows, it is identified with various reagents and then tested for antibiotic susceptibility for treatment purposes.

Question 2

any good tips on getting sputum out?

Accepted Answer

Huff cough: Cough techniques can be very helpful. Look online for huff cough techniques.  Also if you have any bronchodilator medication (albuterol) or can get humidified air (like in shower), this can be helpful.

Question 3

what does it mean to check sputum cs?

Accepted Answer

See below: Sputum is the mucus that you cough up.  A culture means that the specimen (in this case sputum) is plated on a plate with growth medium and incubated to test for any bacteria (or fungi).  The purpose is to see if an infection is causing an illness. If bacteria grows, it is identified with various reagents and then tested for antibiotic susceptibility for treatment purposes.

Question 4

any way to reduce the sputum in our body?

Accepted Answer

Don't smoke: Breakdown of airways such as is seen with environmental pollution or tobacco smokers increases damage and therefore increased production of sputum.  Mostly i recommend airway clearance (sinus rinse) and deep breathing with exercise.

Question 5

sputum with black things, what does it mean?

Accepted Answer

It might possibly: Be old blood.

Question 6

what does elevated eosenophils in sputum mean?

Accepted Answer

Many conditions: Eosinophils are a type of inflammaatory cell. They can be associated with a number of conditions, including allergic disease, asthma, eosinophilic pneumonia, parasitic disease and malignancy. Your physician may order an IgE, sputum culture, and obtain a genetic as well as travel history to determine the cause. Steroids are used to control inflammation.

Question 7

what does it mean if i have green sweet smelling sputum?

Accepted Answer

Infection likely: Your sputum should either look white or clear. Any color usually indicates an infection. When white blood cells fight bacteria in the sputum they release peroxideases--enzymes similar to hydrogen peroxide--that change the color and the smell of sputum.  Green sputum means that you should be checked to see if you have an infection.

Question 8

why does sputum change from white to green in the spitoon?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria: Bacteria are responsible for the color change.  Overtime and warm/moist conditions, bacterial growth increases tremendously.

Question 9

how is a sputum culture obtained when you are being tested?

Accepted Answer

You spit it out.: Basically, you hock up a logey and spit it into a sterile cup. If you can't hock up any phlegm, for whatever reason, they go in after it with a thin tube and suck it out.

Question 10

have had sputum for a long time. what can i do to cure this?

Accepted Answer

Too genera: What do you consider a long time? Are you sick? Are you young or old? What are your medical issues/history? What do you mean with sputum?  There is a lot of sputum and phlegm at this time of year. Are you a smoker.  Better to see doctor if you are concerned.

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Doctor answers about:

Sputum

A member asked:

Whats a sputum culture?

A member asked:

Any good tips on getting sputum out?

A member asked:

What does it mean to check sputum cs?

A member asked:

Any way to reduce the sputum in our body?

A member asked:

Sputum with black things, what does it mean?

A member asked:

What does elevated eosenophils in sputum mean?

A member asked:

What does it mean if i have green sweet smelling sputum?

A member asked:

Why does sputum change from white to green in the spitoon?

A member asked:

How is a sputum culture obtained when you are being tested?

A member asked:

Have had sputum for a long time. what can i do to cure this?

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