I am on antibiotics again but saw a less experienced doctor who didn't really think a sputum sample was necessary. I have had a hacking cough for a week and a lot of lung pain but the sputum sample from last week was inconclusive. I am wondering if I have a chest infection but started them as am in pain. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and started taking the antibiotics without doing the sample. If I give a new sample tomorrow having taken one antibiotic will it affect the sample?
Thank you!
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LolaEs
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Hi Lola. It's less likely the sample will grow anything, because the antibiotics (depending how many you've had) will have killed off some of the bugs, but it's still worth doing in case the bacteria aren't sensitive to that particular drug. It quite often happens that you can't get a sample in at the right time, eg if the lab is closed. Sometimes it won't grow anything anyway, if the sample isn't fresh or is left sitting about for hours before being cultured. I hope the drugs work & you soon feel better.
Brilliant! Thanks for your answer. That helps a lot
Oh, forgot to say - not all bugs grow in a week, some less common ones take several weeks, so an inconclusive result from last week doesn't necessarily mean a great deal. I had a sample last month which grew one thing after a week, but 2 weeks after that I got a call to say it had grown something else too!
Well, they thought it was something which could have been airborne so wanted to retest me. i was initially surprised as I just thought the cough was exercise related but then I felt a bit shivers and headachy. I'm a little worried about being on these pills again as I have had them twice since I had pneumonia in June. I wonder if this is definitely a chest infection but want to be free of the pain and the cough. Anyway, thanks again
Hi I have bronchiectasis with constant chest infections take a sample in and state what drug you have taken and how many. This will be fine. I’m forever doing it.
Hi Lola, I recently became ill during a flight home and it was Saturday so I had to begin taking my emergency supply of antibiotics. On the Monday I saw the doc who took a sample and sent it off to the lab. I queried this as I too had been told the sputum sample should be taken before taking antibiotics but the doc said if there is bacteria in the sample we need to know. Fortunately there was no bacteria but it was a very nasty bug as here I am three weeks later still taking steroids and not feeling particularly strong. Take care. Maximonkey
Thanks for sharing. I'm sorry to hear you have been so ill. I wonder if this is just a horrible cough or if I need antibiotics? My doctor told me today's email that ideally as sample should be taken before antibiotics but a test can still be done as the sample may not respond to these antibiotics. Look after yourself too
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Tips for sputum sample 
So....... how do you provide a sputum sample when you've nothing to cough up?
Bronchiectasis too many antibiotics? 
Mixed Infection including Yeast found inside my latest sputum sample
