Sputum culture (sputum) is a sputum examination to detect the presence of bacteria that cause respiratory infections, especially lung infections (pneumonia). Phlegm is a liquid produced by the respiratory tract, and is released from the respiratory tract when coughing. Besides bacteria, sputum culture examination can also detect fungal infections.
Indications for Sputum Culture
Sputum culture can be done for patients who have pneumonia, lung abscess, or tuberculosis, with symptoms including:
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Muscle ache
- Limp
- Chest pain
- Hard to breathe
Sputum culture can be done after the patient underwent chest X-ray examination, to determine the microbes that cause infection. In addition, sputum culture can also be done to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment underwent.
Sputum Culture Warning
Sputum removal process for culture, safe for patients. However, if the sputum is difficult to get out, it will be taken through the act of binocular breathing (bronchoscopy). This action causes discomfort when the action and the throat feels dry after the action.
Consult with your doctor if you are taking antibiotics, corticosteroids, or pain relievers, before undergoing sputum culture examination. The doctor will ask to stop using these drugs if needed.
Sputum Culture Preparation
Patients are encouraged to drink plenty of water at night before sputum sampling, so that patients more easily expectorate in the morning. The patient is also asked not to eat anything about 1-2 hours before collection. Patients will be asked to brush their teeth and mouth rinse using water or a sterile solution, not with mouthwash.
Procedure and Interpretation of Dahak Culture Results
Sputum sampling will be done in the laboratory in the morning before drinking and having breakfast. The doctor will then teach the patient to take a deep breath and cough to expel phlegm, so that the patient is not mistaken and instead spits, not sputum. If the patient is difficult to expel phlegm, the patient will be given steam therapy (nebulizer) in advance to thin the phlegm, making it easy to remove. The phlegm that comes out is then accommodated in a sterile container for inspection.
Certain patients can undergo sputum sampling using the airway binocular method (bronchoscopy). Initially, patients will be given sedatives and anesthetics to reduce pain during the procedure. Then the lung doctor will insert a camera tube through the mouth and into the respiratory tract. The visible phlegm will be aspirated through a bronchoscopic tube. In patients who use breathing tubes, sputum will be aspirated with a special tool through the breathing tube.
After Phlegm Culture
The examination in the laboratory takes 2 days to see the growth of bacteria and 1 week to see the fungus. After a known cause of infection, the doctor will give antibiotics or antifungal drugs that are effective in treating. To see the effectiveness of the drug, the doctor can do an antibiotic or antifungal susceptibility test after the sputum culture results are positive. The results of the resistance test will be used by the doctor to determine the appropriate treatment for the patient.
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