Abstract
Postoperative chest infection was studied prospectively in 73 patients in order to evaluate standard laboratory methods of sputum examination and to relate the results to the patients' clinical state and to antibiotic therapy. When a culture medium selective for haemophilus was used in addition to unselective media, homogenisation of the specimen gave no advantage. Laboratory and clinical findings usually corresponded well. Profuse growths of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae were clearly associated with clinical evidence of chest infection but other Gramnegative bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus much less so. Coliforms were more prominent after antibiotic therapy.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baber K. G. A selective medium for the isolation of haemophilus from sputum. J Med Lab Technol. 1969 Oct;26(4):391–396. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dixon J. M., Miller D. C. Value of dilute inocula in cultural examination of sputum. Lancet. 1965 Nov 20;2(7421):1046–1048. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(65)90572-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Laszlo G., Archer G. G., Darrell J. H., Dawson J. M., Fletcher C. M. The diagnosis and prophylaxis of pulmonary complications of surgical operation. Br J Surg. 1973 Feb;60(2):129–134. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800600210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MILLER D. L. A STUDY OF TECHNIQUES FOR THE EXAMINATION OF SPUTUM IN A FIELD SURVEY OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1963 Oct;88:473–483. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1963.88.4.473. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RAWLINS G. A. Liquefaction of sputum for bacteriological examination. Lancet. 1953 Sep 12;265(6785):538–539. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(53)90275-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WOODHAMS A. W., MEAD G. R. A COMPARISON BETWEEN PANCREATIN AND N-ACETYL-L-CYSTEINE AS SPUTUM LIQUEFYING AGENTS FOR THE CULTURE OF ORGANISMS. Tubercle. 1965 Jun;46:224–226. doi: 10.1016/s0041-3879(65)80067-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]