What it means
A sample of sputum (mucus from deep in the lungs, not saliva) is placed on a growth medium in the lab. If bacteria or fungi grow, the lab names them and usually tests which antibiotics can kill them (culture and sensitivity). It helps diagnose pneumonia, tuberculosis and other lung infections. Results take a few days.
For the nurse
Collect the sample before the first antibiotic dose, ideally first thing in the morning. Have the client rinse the mouth with water (not mouthwash), take a few deep breaths and cough deeply into a sterile cup. Label it and send it to the lab promptly.
At a glance
| Normal range | No disease-causing organisms grown (normal mouth bacteria may be reported) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | cultivo de esputo |
| Also written | sputum culture and sensitivity, sputum cultures |
Related terms
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
tuberculosis
An infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most often attacks the lungs.
pneumonia
An infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.
bacterial infection
An infection caused by bacteria growing in the body.