sputum collection

Question 1

Bronchiectasis

Answer 1

Bronchiectasis

Question 2

lung cancer

Answer 2

Repeatedly bloodstained

Question 3

Pulmonary tuberculosis

Answer 3

Purulent, intermittently bloodstained

Question 4

Lung abscess

Answer 4

Copious, purulent and malodorous, may be bloodstained

Question 5

Pneumococcal pneumonia

Answer 5

Purulent, stained with rusty red blood

Question 6

Pulmonary oedema

Answer 6

Pink or white and frothy

Question 7

Pulmonary embolus

Answer 7

Bright red

Question 8

Blood clotting abnormality

Answer 8

Bright red

Question 9

Blood stained

Answer 9

Trauma such as intubation, tracheostomy, or lung contusion, or following tracheal suction

Question 10

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Answer 10

Mucoid (clear, grey or white, like raw egg white

Question 11

Infection or dehydration

Answer 11

Thick, tenacious

Question 12

Infection, allergy, secretions that have not been expectorated

Answer 12

Purulent, yellow or green – immune cells arrive, fight, die and are carried off in the mucus turning it yellow

Question 13

Asthma

Answer 13

Sputum plugs or stringy sputum

Question 14

Presence of eosinophils (indicative of infection)

Answer 14

Green or yellow

Question 15

Pseudomonas infection

Answer 15

Thick, green, musty smelling, sticky

Question 16

Haemoptysis (caused by the conditions listed above)

Answer 16

Contains blood — varying from slight streaks to frank bleeding