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Can sputum test be accurate if 3 days on antibiotic??
A month ago I began coughing up dark brown sputum. Also my cough had increased and my energy level bottomed out. I went to my local CRNP and she felt it was bronchitis. I took Levaquin for 10 days. My pulmonary doc said to send a sputum in for them to test. At that time I'd been on the antibiotic 3 days but they said that had not been long enough to affect the results so I sent it in. At that point my sputum was already clearing up. The sputum came back negative for everything. I've not had a negative sputum for Pseudomonas in five years. Anyone else had this experience--being told that antibiotics would not affect the results after being on them for thee days? Thanks.
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Hi Faye - I for one, would be inclined to question those results. It sounds like they didn't send it for a culture after the looked at it on a lab slide. Three days might be enough to affect the quick look, but not the culture. Second, did they have you send one specimen, or more? Our lab always tests 3, taken one day apart, to be sure they have a quality specimen.
What does the pulmonologist say?
Sue
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2 ReactionsWere you tested after the course of Levaquin? What is the status of your Pseudomonas now? Still there? Side effects from the Levaquin?
Hi Sue. Yes I felt this was not a way to get an accurate test results. I mailed the sputum overnight on a Monday and they said the results was on that Friday so it sounds like the did a 3-day culture. They did not say anything about submitting more sputums. I'm OK with the way I'm "feeling" so have not pushed them with further questions, etc. My next scheduled appt is late April so my plan is that if I continue to feel this good (not coughing up any sputum of color) I'll just see them and be evaluated at that time. I'm also schedule for a CT and PFT at that appt. Of course, if my symptoms change, I'll contact them. I've been somewhat disappointed on how they test sputum. At Emory Atlanta they always gave pseudomonas a rating from a plus 1 to plus 4. UAB Birmingham might say "numerous." They don't even tell me that unless I press for it. Your question "what does the pulmonologist say" is basically what I've included here. Thanks Sue for your feedback. Always welcomed. Faye
Hi irenea8. No further sputum submission requested. Therefore can't say what the Pseudomonas status is now. Your question about side effects of Levaquin. When I've taken it in the past I've generally tolerated 500 mg daily OK. This time was tougher. Some problems could be tied to the ??bronchitis or another issue--fatigue, lack of appetite, cough. I was hoping to do a 14-day course but to be truthful I began having so many random thoughts going through my head--like my life events. That was strange enough but the night of day 10 I experienced a nightmare of some of the most awful, evil, sick things that I just quit taking the Levaquin. I even told the NP at my pulm group about it but she did not make any comments. Not sure if I'll ever try it again. Thanks.
Faye
Yes, I had the same thing. Had coughed up brow/black sputum had already been on a couple rounds of antibiotics called by Dr the had me come and do chest X-ray and give them a sample but by that time it was clear and the test was negative
I also got sick after the holidays, no doubt from my 1 yr old granddaughter. I’ve been SO careful since Covid started and haven’t been sick since maybe 2019? Took a course of Levaquin and discussed with pulmonologist to wait a month afterwards to submit a sputum specimen which will be next week.