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Sputum culture question

A

Aspiemom

Guest
I'm not a very productive person - let me rephrase that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> I do not produce sputum on a normal basis. If I have an excerbation, I will. Many of my visits to Johns Hopkins they would swab the back of my throat if I couldn't "hock something up" for them, so they could always culture.

The Clinic I go to now never swabs me, seldom cultures me, if I am not able to give them a sputum sample. It kind of bothers me. When I was running a fever for ages, but didn't have a sample, I kept wondering if a culture would help.

I was just wondering if it's the norm to swab if there's no sample, or if it's more unusual. Vanderbilt said they don't find it very helpful to swab, but I would think if Johns Hopkins always did it that it must be...

Anyone?
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
I'm not a very productive person - let me rephrase that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> I do not produce sputum on a normal basis. If I have an excerbation, I will. Many of my visits to Johns Hopkins they would swab the back of my throat if I couldn't "hock something up" for them, so they could always culture.

The Clinic I go to now never swabs me, seldom cultures me, if I am not able to give them a sputum sample. It kind of bothers me. When I was running a fever for ages, but didn't have a sample, I kept wondering if a culture would help.

I was just wondering if it's the norm to swab if there's no sample, or if it's more unusual. Vanderbilt said they don't find it very helpful to swab, but I would think if Johns Hopkins always did it that it must be...

Anyone?
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
I'm not a very productive person - let me rephrase that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> I do not produce sputum on a normal basis. If I have an excerbation, I will. Many of my visits to Johns Hopkins they would swab the back of my throat if I couldn't "hock something up" for them, so they could always culture.

The Clinic I go to now never swabs me, seldom cultures me, if I am not able to give them a sputum sample. It kind of bothers me. When I was running a fever for ages, but didn't have a sample, I kept wondering if a culture would help.

I was just wondering if it's the norm to swab if there's no sample, or if it's more unusual. Vanderbilt said they don't find it very helpful to swab, but I would think if Johns Hopkins always did it that it must be...

Anyone?
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
I'm not a very productive person - let me rephrase that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> I do not produce sputum on a normal basis. If I have an excerbation, I will. Many of my visits to Johns Hopkins they would swab the back of my throat if I couldn't "hock something up" for them, so they could always culture.

The Clinic I go to now never swabs me, seldom cultures me, if I am not able to give them a sputum sample. It kind of bothers me. When I was running a fever for ages, but didn't have a sample, I kept wondering if a culture would help.

I was just wondering if it's the norm to swab if there's no sample, or if it's more unusual. Vanderbilt said they don't find it very helpful to swab, but I would think if Johns Hopkins always did it that it must be...

Anyone?
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
I'm not a very productive person - let me rephrase that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> I do not produce sputum on a normal basis. If I have an excerbation, I will. Many of my visits to Johns Hopkins they would swab the back of my throat if I couldn't "hock something up" for them, so they could always culture.

The Clinic I go to now never swabs me, seldom cultures me, if I am not able to give them a sputum sample. It kind of bothers me. When I was running a fever for ages, but didn't have a sample, I kept wondering if a culture would help.

I was just wondering if it's the norm to swab if there's no sample, or if it's more unusual. Vanderbilt said they don't find it very helpful to swab, but I would think if Johns Hopkins always did it that it must be...

Anyone?
 
J

jodijp

New member
I've never been swabbed. I'm able to hock up pretty darn good . . . just ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

But geez, I don't know how accurate swabbing your throat would be since their not actually testing the stuff from your lungs. But, I could be wrong. Sorry Debbi, I'm no help, hope someone else can help you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

jodijp

New member
I've never been swabbed. I'm able to hock up pretty darn good . . . just ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

But geez, I don't know how accurate swabbing your throat would be since their not actually testing the stuff from your lungs. But, I could be wrong. Sorry Debbi, I'm no help, hope someone else can help you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

jodijp

New member
I've never been swabbed. I'm able to hock up pretty darn good . . . just ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

But geez, I don't know how accurate swabbing your throat would be since their not actually testing the stuff from your lungs. But, I could be wrong. Sorry Debbi, I'm no help, hope someone else can help you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

jodijp

New member
I've never been swabbed. I'm able to hock up pretty darn good . . . just ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

But geez, I don't know how accurate swabbing your throat would be since their not actually testing the stuff from your lungs. But, I could be wrong. Sorry Debbi, I'm no help, hope someone else can help you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

jodijp

New member
I've never been swabbed. I'm able to hock up pretty darn good . . . just ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

But geez, I don't know how accurate swabbing your throat would be since their not actually testing the stuff from your lungs. But, I could be wrong. Sorry Debbi, I'm no help, hope someone else can help you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
A

AnD

New member
I haven't been swabbed for as long as I can remember.

Hmmm...You could try taking a neb and your saline to you appointment, and try that. Or, you could get a sterile cup from your (or any other dr's office) and do your saline and have someone pound you, or if you have a flutter, etc. and bring them a sample. I think that the window for bringing it in is pretty decent, plenty of time for you to get it done and get to the office. I can just let my clinic know that I am bringing in a sample, and drop it off- no appointment necessary <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
 
A

AnD

New member
I haven't been swabbed for as long as I can remember.

Hmmm...You could try taking a neb and your saline to you appointment, and try that. Or, you could get a sterile cup from your (or any other dr's office) and do your saline and have someone pound you, or if you have a flutter, etc. and bring them a sample. I think that the window for bringing it in is pretty decent, plenty of time for you to get it done and get to the office. I can just let my clinic know that I am bringing in a sample, and drop it off- no appointment necessary <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
 
A

AnD

New member
I haven't been swabbed for as long as I can remember.

Hmmm...You could try taking a neb and your saline to you appointment, and try that. Or, you could get a sterile cup from your (or any other dr's office) and do your saline and have someone pound you, or if you have a flutter, etc. and bring them a sample. I think that the window for bringing it in is pretty decent, plenty of time for you to get it done and get to the office. I can just let my clinic know that I am bringing in a sample, and drop it off- no appointment necessary <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
 
A

AnD

New member
I haven't been swabbed for as long as I can remember.

Hmmm...You could try taking a neb and your saline to you appointment, and try that. Or, you could get a sterile cup from your (or any other dr's office) and do your saline and have someone pound you, or if you have a flutter, etc. and bring them a sample. I think that the window for bringing it in is pretty decent, plenty of time for you to get it done and get to the office. I can just let my clinic know that I am bringing in a sample, and drop it off- no appointment necessary <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
 
A

AnD

New member
I haven't been swabbed for as long as I can remember.

Hmmm...You could try taking a neb and your saline to you appointment, and try that. Or, you could get a sterile cup from your (or any other dr's office) and do your saline and have someone pound you, or if you have a flutter, etc. and bring them a sample. I think that the window for bringing it in is pretty decent, plenty of time for you to get it done and get to the office. I can just let my clinic know that I am bringing in a sample, and drop it off- no appointment necessary <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
 
J

JustDucky

New member
I am not sure Debbi...I too can hoark on demand, so cultures are easily obtained for me. I would think that it probably isn't as accurate because it really doesn't get a good sample of the actual sputum. Here is an interesting article:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
</a>
This next article basically says that a positive swab is representitive of what is growing in the lower airways but also states that a negative swab does not rule out infection either.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/archdischild%3b85/5/438
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content...chdischild%3b85/5/438
</a>
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
I am not sure Debbi...I too can hoark on demand, so cultures are easily obtained for me. I would think that it probably isn't as accurate because it really doesn't get a good sample of the actual sputum. Here is an interesting article:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
</a>
This next article basically says that a positive swab is representitive of what is growing in the lower airways but also states that a negative swab does not rule out infection either.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/archdischild%3b85/5/438
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content...chdischild%3b85/5/438
</a>
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
I am not sure Debbi...I too can hoark on demand, so cultures are easily obtained for me. I would think that it probably isn't as accurate because it really doesn't get a good sample of the actual sputum. Here is an interesting article:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
</a>
This next article basically says that a positive swab is representitive of what is growing in the lower airways but also states that a negative swab does not rule out infection either.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/archdischild%3b85/5/438
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content...chdischild%3b85/5/438
</a>
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
I am not sure Debbi...I too can hoark on demand, so cultures are easily obtained for me. I would think that it probably isn't as accurate because it really doesn't get a good sample of the actual sputum. Here is an interesting article:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
</a>
This next article basically says that a positive swab is representitive of what is growing in the lower airways but also states that a negative swab does not rule out infection either.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/archdischild%3b85/5/438
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content...chdischild%3b85/5/438
</a>
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
I am not sure Debbi...I too can hoark on demand, so cultures are easily obtained for me. I would think that it probably isn't as accurate because it really doesn't get a good sample of the actual sputum. Here is an interesting article:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/577
</a>
This next article basically says that a positive swab is representitive of what is growing in the lower airways but also states that a negative swab does not rule out infection either.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/archdischild%3b85/5/438
">http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content...chdischild%3b85/5/438
</a>
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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