Sputum Sample Question

[Ratatosk]

DS has never done a sputum sample because unless he has an exacerbation, he doesn't cough anything up. So he still gets a throat swab. Just got back from doing labs and they sent home a sputum sample collection kit. Told us to do it first thing in the morning; however, I'm not sure he'll have anything to contribute. Any suggestions? I'm assuming spit (saliva) is about the only thing he'll come up with....

 

[stephen]

If he's does hypertonic saline, try doing that in the morning.

Since using Kalydeco I rarely can bring up anything except right after nebulizing saline. Days that I have a CF center appointment, I collect a sample that way in the morning.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Rebjane]

The Hypertonic saline is a good idea. Still haven't been able to get my daughter to come it into a cup either. Recently she had an exacerbation and I was trying to get her to cough into a specimen cup. She actually had a wet, productive cough at the time. I had her do an albuterol neb, then her Hypertonic saline and she was really coughing. She should of been able to do it but as it was coming up she said she almost threw up and ended up swallowing the mucus. She just hates to bring mucus up and out.. Anyhow; she ended up getting the throat swab...I think the sputum sample they cough up is better cause they can test it for other bugs(slow growers)..

 

[Printer]

Drinking water before will help me. Dairy as in milk or ice cream 10 minutes before coughing can also help.

 

[Ratatosk]

Thanks, I figure I will have him practice this weekend. Online have read about taking a hot shower, leaning over a pot with boiling water, drinking something hot... He doesn't do hts, a couple times at the clinic when he was younger they tried it to get a sample and once he practically rumbled but swallowed it. Others didn't produce anything. He doesn't cough unless he has an exacerbation and when he huff coughs during vest he said nothing comes up.

 

[LittleLab4CF]

I don't know if he can do a nasal rinse but I suggest that he does​ a few hours before the sputum culture. I'm not doing full sinus rinse these days and have found Arm and Hammer's nasal sinus rinse, an aerosol spray that works if he can't/won't do a regular sinus rinse.

My CF clinic usually has me nebulize before trying to give up some sputum, and I get the feeling that this is done with many patients. I have discovered that forcing myself to cough after nebulizing is particularly forceful and I shoot a fair amount of it up past my mouth. It means drawing it back down from above my pallet. This is the reason I am suggesting that he come in with clean nasal passages. Mixing the master filtration system's waste, the nose, makes it difficult to get an​ accurate sense of what is infecting the lungs. It's not vital, but it could help.

Good Luck,

LL