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What is Sputum?

Virginia Franco
Virginia Franco

Sputum is a mucus-like material that is found in the lungs, and which can usually be coughed up and spit out. While no specific color key exists to diagnose an illness based on sputum color, if it is anything other than clear or white, a viral or bacterial lung infection or lung inflammation is possible. When illness is suspected in the bronchial tubes or lungs, a doctor may request a sputum test or sample to identify what is causing the infection. This is because bacteria or viruses that cause a variety of lung infections will reside in the sputum of the infected person.

Producing a sample is easy; the patient simply coughs deeply and spits into a sterile cup. A bit of the sputum will then be smeared onto a slide to produce a culture. When the patient has a difficult time producing cough sputum on his own, the doctor may have him breath in saline via a nebulizer, which works to loosen the material and makes it easier to cough up. Lung diseases and infections, like tuberculosis, lower respiratory tract infections, whooping cough, and Legionnaire's disease, are suspected based on symptoms and confirmed with a sputum test.

Sputum is a mucus found in the lungs that may be coughed up.
Sputum is a mucus found in the lungs that may be coughed up.

The results of a sputum test can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on what is found. Culture results for bacteria can be obtained rapidly, and usually do not take longer than a day, while the presence of fungus or mold can take as long as a few weeks to obtain because they require a series of tests to identify the specific mold or yeast present in the sputum. If a virus is suspected, the testing process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. When bacteria are identified, a sensitivity test can be performed on the culture to determine which antibiotic is best able to treat and kill it. A culture with no growth indicates that the patient's lungs are not infected.

If a patient has difficulty producing cough sputum, breathing in saline mist using a nebulizer may help loosen the material.
If a patient has difficulty producing cough sputum, breathing in saline mist using a nebulizer may help loosen the material.

Sputum streaked with blood can be the result of a number of issues. While bloody sputum can be caused by something as innocuous as dry airway passages, it can also be a symptom of something more serious, such as pneumonia or even a blood clot. For this reason, it is important to consult a doctor when blood is found in the sputum, especially if other symptoms are also present.

Discussion Comments

anon227852

Can you tell from sputum if there are parasites like lung worms?

Vaclav

My grandma is in the hospital right now. The nurse said she has green sputum. I wonder what that means? Does it mean she has an infection?

honeysuckle

While my father was in the hospital, they took a lot of sputum samples. They said they were looking for certain colors. I never knew that there were different colors of sputum. Different colors mean different diagnoses.

The doctor said my father had a rust colored sputum sample, which meant there was a good chance he had pneumonia.

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    • Sputum is a mucus found in the lungs that may be coughed up.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Sputum is a mucus found in the lungs that may be coughed up.
    • If a patient has difficulty producing cough sputum, breathing in saline mist using a nebulizer may help loosen the material.
      By: Eva Vargyasi
      If a patient has difficulty producing cough sputum, breathing in saline mist using a nebulizer may help loosen the material.
    • Bloody sputum can be a symptom of something more serious, such as a blood clot.
      By: p6m5
      Bloody sputum can be a symptom of something more serious, such as a blood clot.
    • A sputum test may be performed to diagnose a lower respiratory tract infection and a variety of other conditions.
      By: joshya
      A sputum test may be performed to diagnose a lower respiratory tract infection and a variety of other conditions.
    • Drinking plenty of water can help clear sputum from the lungs.
      By: vgstudio
      Drinking plenty of water can help clear sputum from the lungs.
    • The presense of sputum in the lungs may be a sign of infection.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      The presense of sputum in the lungs may be a sign of infection.
    • Lung inflammation may cause discolored sputum.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      Lung inflammation may cause discolored sputum.
    • A sputum test may be used to diagnose a bacterial lung infection.
      By: Leah-Anne Thompson
      A sputum test may be used to diagnose a bacterial lung infection.
    • Bloody sputum may be symptomatic of pneumonia.
      By: designua
      Bloody sputum may be symptomatic of pneumonia.