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?
<br />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.
<br />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">
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<br />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.
<br />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">
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