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First Lung sputum test results
Hi. I am new to the group. I just had a sputum test and I am very new to knowing what everything means. I have a follow up in January, but would like some insight if I should be concerned right now. The results showed rare epithelial cells, rare PMN WBC's, few gram positive cocci in pairs, and few gram negative rods. I am not used to this vocabulary yet. I have hEDS and I am very familiar with a lot of medical terms, but not these. Thanks.
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I have a related question. My latest sputum results
CULTURE RESULT LOWER RESPIRATORY: 4+ Normal respiratory flora
Gram stain: Few Gram positive cocci.
Gram stain: Few Gram Positive Bacilli
Gram stain: Many PMNs present
It all looks good, and message from doctor is that it looks good, but that “many PMNs present” is puzzling to me. When I look it up it said that “Many PMNs" indicates a bacterial infection is present. So I’m wondering why that isn’t treatable?
@annagh & @kellyld Interpreting test results really is outside the limits of what Connect members can do for you. We do not provide medical advice, so you should consult your doctors.
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1 Reaction@sueinmn Thank you, Sue.
After phrasing my question a few different ways, I finally got this response from doctor’s assistant, "PMN's in the smear are just dead mouth bugs. If PMN's grow inside the culture, then that would indicate active infection.” That explanation helps me understand why they don’t see this as in indication for treatment.
Thanks. I am definitely going to see my Dr. I just didn’t know what these terms were.
@annagh If the PMN's are on the slide examined under the microscope, they are considered "normal flora." PNM's are a specific type of white blood cells that fight infections, and do not grow in a culture. If you have an active infection, that, not PAM'S, will grow in the culture, alerting the doctor that you may need treatment.
Many people are "colonized" by a specific bacteria that isn't an acute infection, and doctors usually choose to allow the body to fight it instead of using antibiotics. For example, I have staph ( not MRSA) that appears every time I get any small wound. We only treat it when it happens, but my WBC (PNM is only one kind) is always elevated.