Sputum sample with mild Bronchiectasis and only occasional dry cough

You need to nebulize with 3 or 7 per cent saline. 7 works better. Saline for nebulizer you can get without prescription on amazon. Nebulizers you can get online. I have a pari vios. Then you need an airway clearance device like an acapella or an aerobika. You nebulize, then use the aerobika, then huff cough and see if anything will come up. The idea is to loosen the mucus in your lungs and keep it moving so it can come out. Otherwise it plugs up in your lungs and gets infected. I too am mildly infected in right middle lobe. I nebulize every other day . If you get sick you need to do it more. Mucinex helps if you feel plugged up.

I also have mild bronchiectasis with no or only occaisional symptoms. I've been diagnosed since 2017 and never could produce sputum with the directions I was getting from my local pulmonologist. I finally went to Mayo in 2025 and was taught by the respiratory therapists there how to properly use a nebulizer with aerobika and properly do the breathing that precedes the huff cough. I have trouble and do not like the huff cough but I have been able to produce sputum this way. I rest for awhile between huffs if I don't feel good from it and usually stop after 3 rounds of the procedure series as thats what I can tolerate. Because I have been able to produce and send in sputum samples, I have since been diagnosed with MAC but due to the fact I have low to no symptoms, I do not need to be treated with "the big 3" at this time and my treatment is more vigilant nebs and airway clearance.
I hope this helps you and hope that you can get to a bronchiectasis center that can give you good guidance.