What does sputum culture check?

With the advancement of science and technology and the improvement of medical standards, medical scientists have invented more and more various examination methods. Many diseases can be detected by examining the components of body excretions. Sputum culture is a new examination method. Sputum culture is mainly used to examine tuberculosis. Doctors can diagnose diseases based on the symptoms of sputum. So, what exactly is the sputum culture test?

Sputum culture is a method of identification and verification, and the best antibiotics available in clinical practice are antibiotics. The CDC now also performs sputum culture when providing free tuberculosis screening.

Patients with cough accompanied by excessive sputum or thick sputum should choose cough suppressants that can eliminate or reduce phlegm. The cough suppressant that can eliminate or reduce phlegm should be selected according to the nature of the sputum.

When the sputum is grayish white and sticky, compound licorice mixture can be used. Adults can take 10 ml each time, 3 times a day, and children can reduce the dosage accordingly. This medicine has the effect of relieving cough and reducing phlegm. Ammonium chloride can also be used, 0.3-0.6 grams each time for adults, 3 times a day, and 30-60 mg/kg body weight per day for children. Ammonium chloride can cause irritation symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, so it should be taken after meals. Bromhexine hydrochloride (Bromhexine) can also be added, 16 mg each time, 3 times a day, and 4 to 8 mg each time for children, 2 times a day. It may cause nausea and stomach discomfort; patients with gastric ulcers should use it with caution. Traditional Chinese medicine cough and expectorant preparations include honey-refined Fritillaria and loquat paste, 10 ml each time, 3 times a day, but due to the high sugar content, they are prohibited for use by diabetic patients. When the sputum is thick and difficult to cough up, acetylcysteine ​​(Tanyijing) can be used. This medicine can decompose the mucin in the sputum, making the sputum thinner and easier to cough up. The medicine is in the form of a spray, with a 10% solution of 1 to 3 ml for adults, twice a day. Children should have the medicine injected into the trachea under the guidance of a doctor. Its adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, and bronchospasm, so it is contraindicated in patients with bronchial asthma. In addition, you can also use Jinotong, 30 mg each time, 3 times a day. In addition to thinning sputum, these two drugs can also promote ciliary movement and protect bronchial mucosa, making them the most ideal expectorants currently.

Yellow-green sputum When the sputum is yellow or green with pus, it indicates that there is infection. Therefore, in addition to using cough suppressants and expectorants, antibiotics should also be added. At this time, the patient should go to the hospital for a sputum culture test. For those with positive sputum culture, antibiotic treatment will be selected according to the results of drug sensitivity test. For those with negative sputum culture, antibiotics will be selected to fight infection based on the effectiveness of the usual drugs used. At the same time, postural drainage should be strengthened, such as patting the back.

In addition, you should use the correct method to cough up phlegm. Do not cough up phlegm passively when it irritates the airway and throat. You should be more proactive in coughing up phlegm. First, take a deep breath through your nose, then relax and exhale through your mouth. Repeat 1 to 2 times, then take a deep breath again, and at the end of inhalation, contract your abdomen and cough forcefully. At the same time, in order to make coughing up phlegm smoother, you can drink some hot drinks to moisten the phlegm, because sufficient water can make the phlegm thinner, making it easier to cough up.