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First Lung sputum test results
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@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.
Replies to "@sueinmn Thank you, Sue. After phrasing my question a few different ways, I finally got this..."
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@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.