sputum culture definination and purposes.

A sputum culture is a test that checks for bacteria or another type of organisms that may be causing an infection in the lungs or the airways leading to the lungs.
Sputum also known as phlegm is a thick type of mucus made in lungs.

1. Nursing foundation sputum culture Prachi Sanjay sable Roll no 43

2. Objective Define sputum culture describe the elements of sputum culture. Explain the purposes of sputum culture. Enlist the articles use in sputum culture. Elaborate the procedure of sputum culture. Define throat culture swab. Enlist the articles use in throat swabs. Elaborate the procedure of sputum culture.

3. Introduction A sputum culture is a test that checks for bacteria or another type of organisms that may be causing an infection in the lungs or the airways leading to the lungs. Sputum also known as phlegm is a thick type of mucus made in lungs .

4. Definition Sputum is the mucous secretion from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea . It is important to differentiate it from saliva, the clear liquid secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth, sometimes referred to as “spit .”

5. Elements of sputum culture Sputum can be one of several different colors. The colors can help to identify the type of infection or to identify the course of illness

6. Color Reason clear, white, or gray usually indicates healthy lungs, but a lot of sputum may indicate a lung disease, allergy, or viral infection dark yellow or green can indicate a bacterial or viral infection, such as  pneumonia , or  cystic fibrosis , an inherited condition that involves excess mucus buildup

7. Brown often occurs in people who  smoke  and those with  black lung disease , a condition resulting from exposure to coal dust pink can indicate pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs), from a condition such as congestive heart failure

8. Red Can be a sign of an internal injury,  lung cancer,  or a  pulmonary embolism (PE) , which is a blood clot on the lung that needs immediate medical attention

9. Purposes To identify respiratory pathogen. Look for the color of sputum like hemoptysis, greenish color in bronchitis, rusty color in pneumonia

10. Articles Sterile specimen container Tissue paper Sputum Mug with disinfectant STERILE SURGICAL GLOVES Disposable mask

11. Collection of sputum for culture Collection of coughed out sputum for culture to identify respiratory pathogen (acid fast bacillus, streptococci, pneumococci, diphtheria bacilli ).

12. Procedure Check the physician’s orders. Explain the whole procedure to the patient. Explain to the patient that he has to expectorate the sputum into sterile labeled container, with without disinfecting it. Ask the patient to sit erect in bed.

13. Wash hands and put on gloves. Ask the patient to rinse the mouth with plain water in the morning. Keep a sterile specimen container ready for sample and take a tissue paper in hand. Remove the lid of container and place with inner side facing upwards.

14. Instruct the patient to take deep breathe and then cough out into the container. Mouth should be rinsed with plain water and not with any antiseptic mouth wash . Close the container without touching inside of the lid. Provide tissue paper to the patient.

15. Replace the articles and discard the waste and rinse the articles. Document the findings related to specimen.

16. Throat culture swab A throat culture sample is collected from the mucosa of the oropharynx and tonsillar regions using a culture swab . The sample is then cultured and examined for the presence of disease-producing microorganisms . Obtaining a throat culture is an invasive procedure that requires the application of scientific knowledge and potential problem solving to ensure client safety.

17. Articles Sterile gloves Sterile test tube Sterile cotton applicator/ swab stick.

18. Procedure Wear sterile gloves. Ask patient to open the mouth wide. Ask to say “ahh” with tongue protruded out . Press the tongue with spatula or tongue depressor. With help of sterile swab stick or cotton applicator collect the specimen by swabbing the tonsillar area side to side. Put the swab stick in the sterile test tub, label and send to lab.

19. Bibliography Textbook of nursing foundation – jyoti kathawal Textbook of nursing foundation – jaypee publication Principles & Practice Of Nursing Vol 1 – sr Nancy Fundamental of nursing- kozier erbs A Textbook of Nursing Foundation- P.M. Prathiba  

20. Conclusion Sputum is a thick substance that accumulates when bacteria or fungi grows and multiples in the lungs or bronchi As it accumulates, the growing substance can make breathing more difficult and cause coughing.