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throat culture vs sputum culture
- Thread starter auntcob
- Start date
M
Mommafirst
Guest
A sputum culture is where the patient coughs up a sample of mucous or sputum hopefully from the lungs. A throat culture is just a swab of the back of the throat, they try to get the patient to cough and hope they get sputum on it. A sputum culture is MUCH more likely to be accurate. The throat culture could definitely miss a bug that is growing deep in the lungs, but so could a sputum culture as well. My daughter has had two bronchoscopies because the throat cultures just didn't seem to match her symptoms. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> So ultimately a bronch with lavage is going to yield the most information, but the others are usually sufficient.
M
Mommafirst
Guest
A sputum culture is where the patient coughs up a sample of mucous or sputum hopefully from the lungs. A throat culture is just a swab of the back of the throat, they try to get the patient to cough and hope they get sputum on it. A sputum culture is MUCH more likely to be accurate. The throat culture could definitely miss a bug that is growing deep in the lungs, but so could a sputum culture as well. My daughter has had two bronchoscopies because the throat cultures just didn't seem to match her symptoms. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> So ultimately a bronch with lavage is going to yield the most information, but the others are usually sufficient.
M
Mommafirst
Guest
A sputum culture is where the patient coughs up a sample of mucous or sputum hopefully from the lungs. A throat culture is just a swab of the back of the throat, they try to get the patient to cough and hope they get sputum on it. A sputum culture is MUCH more likely to be accurate. The throat culture could definitely miss a bug that is growing deep in the lungs, but so could a sputum culture as well. My daughter has had two bronchoscopies because the throat cultures just didn't seem to match her symptoms. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> So ultimately a bronch with lavage is going to yield the most information, but the others are usually sufficient.
Emily can't always cough up anything productive for hers and so they sometimes have to just do a throat swab. She often, but not always, cultures staph. Her only 'clean' cultures have come from throat swabs... I am sure the staph doesn't ever disappear from her lungs, but it's all about whether a good sample is produced to grow it out.
Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
Emily can't always cough up anything productive for hers and so they sometimes have to just do a throat swab. She often, but not always, cultures staph. Her only 'clean' cultures have come from throat swabs... I am sure the staph doesn't ever disappear from her lungs, but it's all about whether a good sample is produced to grow it out.
Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
Emily can't always cough up anything productive for hers and so they sometimes have to just do a throat swab. She often, but not always, cultures staph. Her only 'clean' cultures have come from throat swabs... I am sure the staph doesn't ever disappear from her lungs, but it's all about whether a good sample is produced to grow it out.
<br />
<br />Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
<br />
<br />Throat swabs are often sufficient but sputum cultures are definitely ideal if the person is capable of producing them.
Katy still has swabs done because she doesn't cough up anything. But I talk to her about how if she ever can, she should try and spit it out into a tissue. She has actually done it a few times lately and sadly, we are both excited about that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
Katy still has swabs done because she doesn't cough up anything. But I talk to her about how if she ever can, she should try and spit it out into a tissue. She has actually done it a few times lately and sadly, we are both excited about that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
Katy still has swabs done because she doesn't cough up anything. But I talk to her about how if she ever can, she should try and spit it out into a tissue. She has actually done it a few times lately and sadly, we are both excited about that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
<br />
<br />I made the mistake of telling her that she might not need swabs anymore (she hates them so). But I think what she is producing is just post-nasal drip. If that's what it is will the doc be able to tell by looking and will he even send it off for culturing?
Good question re. the post-nasal drip. They do look in the throat as part of the exam so I am sure they can tell if there is a lot of that going on before they do the swab. I think the culture would still be valid, since many with cf culture bugs in their sinuses too (and whatever is in the sinuses can wind up in the lungs.)
They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
Good question re. the post-nasal drip. They do look in the throat as part of the exam so I am sure they can tell if there is a lot of that going on before they do the swab. I think the culture would still be valid, since many with cf culture bugs in their sinuses too (and whatever is in the sinuses can wind up in the lungs.)
They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
Good question re. the post-nasal drip. They do look in the throat as part of the exam so I am sure they can tell if there is a lot of that going on before they do the swab. I think the culture would still be valid, since many with cf culture bugs in their sinuses too (and whatever is in the sinuses can wind up in the lungs.)
<br />
<br />They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
<br />
<br />They always have Emily do some deep, long huffs and coughs before doing any culture, even if she can't hock anything up. Following the huffs, odds are hopefully better that anything they get would be from the lungs, not the sinuses, I hope.
debs2girls
New member
Cheyenne still cant cough anything out far enough to spit it in a cup. Our clinic doesnt do throat swabs. They do suctions instead. We have one done at every clinic visit..once a month, unless she is on IV's.
debs2girls
New member
Cheyenne still cant cough anything out far enough to spit it in a cup. Our clinic doesnt do throat swabs. They do suctions instead. We have one done at every clinic visit..once a month, unless she is on IV's.