Question on culturing?

[Poptart]

Hello,

We are in that 6 week wait to see a genetics doc for genetic testing. So forgive my ignorance, I am just trying to understand how this all works. This site has been extremely helpful.

I have seen people discuss being "cultured" for some type of infections. It appears that CF patient's culture a very specific type of infection? My question is, do these CF specific "bugs" just show up on a typical test like when they strep test or take blood? Or, do doctors only check for these CF "bugs" when you have CF? Does that make sense? I am not even sure how to Google my question <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I guess I am wondering if he has had CF why would these CF type of infections been found? My son is almost 14, GI issues entire life, 2 sinus surgeries with Pol. Severe allergies and sinus infections, T & A removed at 20 months due to excessive throat infections. Severe, GERD, Bile refluxing and mild IBD. Almost 5'10 and 120 lbs on a good day. Very athletic and plays completive sports his entire life. Pushes through the yuck. Symptoms wise he has quite a few. 2 negative sweat tests 38 & 19. Unreliable I know!

Thoughts?

 

[Poptart]

Hello,

We are in that 6 week wait to see a genetics doc for genetic testing. So forgive my ignorance, I am just trying to understand how this all works. This site has been extremely helpful.

I have seen people discuss being "cultured" for some type of infections. It appears that CF patient's culture a very specific type of infection? My question is, do these CF specific "bugs" just show up on a typical test like when they strep test or take blood? Or, do doctors only check for these CF "bugs" when you have CF? Does that make sense? I am not even sure how to Google my question <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I guess I am wondering if he has had CF why would these CF type of infections been found? My son is almost 14, GI issues entire life, 2 sinus surgeries with Pol. Severe allergies and sinus infections, T & A removed at 20 months due to excessive throat infections. Severe, GERD, Bile refluxing and mild IBD. Almost 5'10 and 120 lbs on a good day. Very athletic and plays completive sports his entire life. Pushes through the yuck. Symptoms wise he has quite a few. 2 negative sweat tests 38 & 19. Unreliable I know!

Thoughts?

 

[Poptart]

Hello,
<br />
<br /> We are in that 6 week wait to see a genetics doc for genetic testing. So forgive my ignorance, I am just trying to understand how this all works. This site has been extremely helpful.
<br />
<br />I have seen people discuss being "cultured" for some type of infections. It appears that CF patient's culture a very specific type of infection? My question is, do these CF specific "bugs" just show up on a typical test like when they strep test or take blood? Or, do doctors only check for these CF "bugs" when you have CF? Does that make sense? I am not even sure how to Google my question <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />I guess I am wondering if he has had CF why would these CF type of infections been found? My son is almost 14, GI issues entire life, 2 sinus surgeries with Pol. Severe allergies and sinus infections, T & A removed at 20 months due to excessive throat infections. Severe, GERD, Bile refluxing and mild IBD. Almost 5'10 and 120 lbs on a good day. Very athletic and plays completive sports his entire life. Pushes through the yuck. Symptoms wise he has quite a few. 2 negative sweat tests 38 & 19. Unreliable I know!
<br />
<br />Thoughts?
<br />

 

[Rebjane]

When we talk about the "bugs" our children are culturing, it typically is from a sputum sample that is specifically sent for culture for CF specific bacteria. For the younger kids; the doc or nurse will take a throat swab , like the one you test for strep throat, and gag them to produce a cough onto the swab and send that to a lab. They always write on my daughter's swab, patient has CF on it so the lab will look for bacteria like staph arueus, pseudomonas, h. flu etc. Older children/adults are able to cough up sputum into a sterile cup and the lab does the same. thing.

Not to confuse you more, but sometimes pateints with CF will have a bronchoscopy which is a procedure when they look into the lungs and can obtain deeper cultures from the lung, to be more accurate.

 

[Rebjane]

When we talk about the "bugs" our children are culturing, it typically is from a sputum sample that is specifically sent for culture for CF specific bacteria. For the younger kids; the doc or nurse will take a throat swab , like the one you test for strep throat, and gag them to produce a cough onto the swab and send that to a lab. They always write on my daughter's swab, patient has CF on it so the lab will look for bacteria like staph arueus, pseudomonas, h. flu etc. Older children/adults are able to cough up sputum into a sterile cup and the lab does the same. thing.

Not to confuse you more, but sometimes pateints with CF will have a bronchoscopy which is a procedure when they look into the lungs and can obtain deeper cultures from the lung, to be more accurate.

 

[Rebjane]

When we talk about the "bugs" our children are culturing, it typically is from a sputum sample that is specifically sent for culture for CF specific bacteria. For the younger kids; the doc or nurse will take a throat swab , like the one you test for strep throat, and gag them to produce a cough onto the swab and send that to a lab. They always write on my daughter's swab, patient has CF on it so the lab will look for bacteria like staph arueus, pseudomonas, h. flu etc. Older children/adults are able to cough up sputum into a sterile cup and the lab does the same. thing.
<br />
<br />Not to confuse you more, but sometimes pateints with CF will have a bronchoscopy which is a procedure when they look into the lungs and can obtain deeper cultures from the lung, to be more accurate.
<br />
<br />

 

[hmw]

The cultures you see referred to here are sputum cultures. They are tested for bugs like pseudomonas aeruginosa, staph, and other bugs that are sometimes seen in the respiratory tract of those that have cf. They would NOT be picked up on a test like a strep test or rapid flu test, blood test, etc and therefore are often not found unless they are specifically looked for.

Just so you know~ it doesn't take a genetics dr to order genetic testing for CF. For example, any dr can order the Ambry Amplified for CF testing kit and it can be processed & sent out from any lab- it comes with all necessary materials- vial, return packaging, etc.

Wishing the best and for the answers you need!

 

[hmw]

The cultures you see referred to here are sputum cultures. They are tested for bugs like pseudomonas aeruginosa, staph, and other bugs that are sometimes seen in the respiratory tract of those that have cf. They would NOT be picked up on a test like a strep test or rapid flu test, blood test, etc and therefore are often not found unless they are specifically looked for.

Just so you know~ it doesn't take a genetics dr to order genetic testing for CF. For example, any dr can order the Ambry Amplified for CF testing kit and it can be processed & sent out from any lab- it comes with all necessary materials- vial, return packaging, etc.

Wishing the best and for the answers you need!

 

[hmw]

The cultures you see referred to here are sputum cultures. They are tested for bugs like pseudomonas aeruginosa, staph, and other bugs that are sometimes seen in the respiratory tract of those that have cf. They would NOT be picked up on a test like a strep test or rapid flu test, blood test, etc and therefore are often not found unless they are specifically looked for.
<br />
<br />Just so you know~ it doesn't take a genetics dr to order genetic testing for CF. For example, any dr can order the Ambry Amplified for CF testing kit and it can be processed & sent out from any lab- it comes with all necessary materials- vial, return packaging, etc.
<br />
<br />Wishing the best and for the answers you need!

 

[Eden]

I had wondered this previously. When a bronch (or a sputum culture) is done on a child that has not yet been diagnosed with CF, and the culture is not being done to specifically look for CF bugs for diagnostic purposes, would CF bugs show up on the results? Or do they specifically have to request that the lab look for CF bugs?

 

[Eden]

I had wondered this previously. When a bronch (or a sputum culture) is done on a child that has not yet been diagnosed with CF, and the culture is not being done to specifically look for CF bugs for diagnostic purposes, would CF bugs show up on the results? Or do they specifically have to request that the lab look for CF bugs?

 

[Eden]

I had wondered this previously. When a bronch (or a sputum culture) is done on a child that has not yet been diagnosed with CF, and the culture is not being done to specifically look for CF bugs for diagnostic purposes, would CF bugs show up on the results? Or do they specifically have to request that the lab look for CF bugs?

 

[Melissa75]

I get my cultures through a pulmonologist and what they've always specified on the paper is that they want a regular culture and cultures for fungus and slow-growing bacteria, like mycobacterium/TB, called AFB (acid fast bacilli...or something like that). This last one takes up to 5 weeks to grow, whereas the other cultures are ready in a few days.
I think the only thing that might be missed in a non-CF or non-lung disease sputum culture is the AFB. I am curious to learn if I am wrong though.

 

[Melissa75]

I get my cultures through a pulmonologist and what they've always specified on the paper is that they want a regular culture and cultures for fungus and slow-growing bacteria, like mycobacterium/TB, called AFB (acid fast bacilli...or something like that). This last one takes up to 5 weeks to grow, whereas the other cultures are ready in a few days.
I think the only thing that might be missed in a non-CF or non-lung disease sputum culture is the AFB. I am curious to learn if I am wrong though.

 

[Melissa75]

I get my cultures through a pulmonologist and what they've always specified on the paper is that they want a regular culture and cultures for fungus and slow-growing bacteria, like mycobacterium/TB, called AFB (acid fast bacilli...or something like that). This last one takes up to 5 weeks to grow, whereas the other cultures are ready in a few days.
<br />I think the only thing that might be missed in a non-CF or non-lung disease sputum culture is the AFB. I am curious to learn if I am wrong though.
<br />

 

[LouLou]

Melissa, You are wrong. THe AFB test is one that isn't always run everytime in cf more of like every 6-12 mos or when there is a dramatic change in the course of the disease. The standard cf bacteria test is a thorough test that includes sensitivity testing to various antibiotics. Small hospitals (without a cf center) miss bacteria as well as the drop in labs like Quest who are famous for miscoding the bacteria..such as saying pseudomonas aerigenosa is achiligenes x. For this reason, I don't suggest dropping off a sputum sample at Quest Labs becuase as much as they say they are equiped to handle cf sputum they are not. Oh and the local hosptial who is associated with my son's pediatrician gets a throat culture once a year and they always miss his MRSA even though every 3 months it turns up at the big hospital (Danbury Hospital vs. Yale New Haven Hospital). I'm not sure what they are looking for but you would think MRSA would be something they are looking for.

This whole topic is one of the MANY reasons why our care as cf patients is soo, soo superior to the general population. We really all should be taking abx based on what we culture right? ...but it would be too expensive to culture everyone. We're just the lucky ones!

 

[LouLou]

Melissa, You are wrong. THe AFB test is one that isn't always run everytime in cf more of like every 6-12 mos or when there is a dramatic change in the course of the disease. The standard cf bacteria test is a thorough test that includes sensitivity testing to various antibiotics. Small hospitals (without a cf center) miss bacteria as well as the drop in labs like Quest who are famous for miscoding the bacteria..such as saying pseudomonas aerigenosa is achiligenes x. For this reason, I don't suggest dropping off a sputum sample at Quest Labs becuase as much as they say they are equiped to handle cf sputum they are not. Oh and the local hosptial who is associated with my son's pediatrician gets a throat culture once a year and they always miss his MRSA even though every 3 months it turns up at the big hospital (Danbury Hospital vs. Yale New Haven Hospital). I'm not sure what they are looking for but you would think MRSA would be something they are looking for.

This whole topic is one of the MANY reasons why our care as cf patients is soo, soo superior to the general population. We really all should be taking abx based on what we culture right? ...but it would be too expensive to culture everyone. We're just the lucky ones!

 

[LouLou]

Melissa, You are wrong. THe AFB test is one that isn't always run everytime in cf more of like every 6-12 mos or when there is a dramatic change in the course of the disease. The standard cf bacteria test is a thorough test that includes sensitivity testing to various antibiotics. Small hospitals (without a cf center) miss bacteria as well as the drop in labs like Quest who are famous for miscoding the bacteria..such as saying pseudomonas aerigenosa is achiligenes x. For this reason, I don't suggest dropping off a sputum sample at Quest Labs becuase as much as they say they are equiped to handle cf sputum they are not. Oh and the local hosptial who is associated with my son's pediatrician gets a throat culture once a year and they always miss his MRSA even though every 3 months it turns up at the big hospital (Danbury Hospital vs. Yale New Haven Hospital). I'm not sure what they are looking for but you would think MRSA would be something they are looking for.
<br />
<br />This whole topic is one of the MANY reasons why our care as cf patients is soo, soo superior to the general population. We really all should be taking abx based on what we culture right? ...but it would be too expensive to culture everyone. We're just the lucky ones!

 

[mom2owen]

We have had both the throat and sputum cultures done recently. Owen is not diagnosed with CF but he is seen at the CF clinic here. I did read somewhere that sputum cultures in general do check for typical bugs that can affect anyone with lung disease but the CF cultures automatically check for pseudomonas, staph A, etc. as well as for the fungus, etc. The throat culture seems similar to a strep test but they test for different things. In our case, the throat culture was negative but his sputum culture was positive for staph. I would think any doctor could order a sputum culture that looks for CF bugs. Other people with lung disease can have staph for sure so there are other reasons to check for it. Does that make sense?
It is hard to wait for genetic results, and honestly, even with them, I am not sure I will feel any better. Originally, we were told that with all of Owen's symptoms, if he did culture for a "CF bug," a diagnosis would be made. But, we live in the grey zone so even when he cultured staph, they are not willing to commit to any diagnosis at this point.
One other interesting piece of the cultures is that you can culture without having increased symptoms. I do not know if Owen always has staph and was just coincidentally also experiencing an "exacerbation" or it was that the staph actually made him sick this time but he won't always culture staph. Who knows for sure. But luckily, because of his increased symptoms, his culture results and his lung damage as seen in his lung CT, he was treated with Bactrim and is slowly getting better. There is just so much information! Good luck sorting through it all. It can be really hard putting the pieces together, you are not alone!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[mom2owen]

We have had both the throat and sputum cultures done recently. Owen is not diagnosed with CF but he is seen at the CF clinic here. I did read somewhere that sputum cultures in general do check for typical bugs that can affect anyone with lung disease but the CF cultures automatically check for pseudomonas, staph A, etc. as well as for the fungus, etc. The throat culture seems similar to a strep test but they test for different things. In our case, the throat culture was negative but his sputum culture was positive for staph. I would think any doctor could order a sputum culture that looks for CF bugs. Other people with lung disease can have staph for sure so there are other reasons to check for it. Does that make sense?
It is hard to wait for genetic results, and honestly, even with them, I am not sure I will feel any better. Originally, we were told that with all of Owen's symptoms, if he did culture for a "CF bug," a diagnosis would be made. But, we live in the grey zone so even when he cultured staph, they are not willing to commit to any diagnosis at this point.
One other interesting piece of the cultures is that you can culture without having increased symptoms. I do not know if Owen always has staph and was just coincidentally also experiencing an "exacerbation" or it was that the staph actually made him sick this time but he won't always culture staph. Who knows for sure. But luckily, because of his increased symptoms, his culture results and his lung damage as seen in his lung CT, he was treated with Bactrim and is slowly getting better. There is just so much information! Good luck sorting through it all. It can be really hard putting the pieces together, you are not alone!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">