Sputum Culture: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
A sputum culture is done to:
- Detect and identify bacteria or fungi that are causing an infection (such as pneumonia or tuberculosis) of the lungs or the airways leading to the lungs. Symptoms of a lung infection may include difficulty breathing, pain when breathing, or a cough that produces bloody or greenish brown sputum.
- Identify the best antibiotic to treat the infection (sensitivity testing).
- Monitor treatment of an infection.
| Last updated: | March 21, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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