{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T13:49:46Z","timestamp":1760622586606,"version":"3.44.0"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"8","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Clin Pathol"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1978,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Methods for the quantitation of leucocytes, squamous epithelial cells, and potential pathogens in sputa are described. Microscopic examination showed that 58% of sputa tested (554\/957) were purulent or moderately purulent and 48% were moderately or heavily contaminated by squamous epithelial cells. The presence of squamous epithelial cells indicated oropharyngeal contamination. A simple dilution technique was chosen to compare the isolation of potential pathogens from direct cultures and from dilutions of sputa (10(-7) per ml original sputum). The dilution technique permitted easier reading of sputum cultures and avoided the possible over-reporting of enterobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were frequently found on direct examination. Enterobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were more likely to be isolated from sputa moderately or heavily contaminated with squamous epithelial cells. The use of counter-current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and co-agglutination tests to detect pneumococcal antigen in sputa is described. The presence of antigen in sputum was a more reliable index of lower respiratory tract infection than a positive culture. Co-agglutination tests were simpler to perform and used smaller amounts of expensive antiserum than CIE.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.31.8.724","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,6,9]],"date-time":"2007-06-09T00:50:46Z","timestamp":1181350246000},"page":"724-729","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Evaluation of some methods for the laboratory examination of sputum."],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"31","author":[{"given":"G M","family":"Tebbutt","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"D J","family":"Coleman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1978,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"24","article-title":"Medical Microbiology: Quality, Cost and Clinical Relevance","author":"Bartlett, R.C.","year":"1974","unstructured":"Bartlett, R. C. (1974). Medical Microbiology: Quality, Cost and Clinical Relevance, pp. 24-30. John Wiley, New York."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"1306","article-title":"An evaluation of sputum examination in chronic bronchitis","volume":"2","author":"Brumfitt, W.; Willoughby, M.L.N.; Bromley, L.L.","year":"1957","unstructured":"Brumfitt, W., Willoughby, M. L. N., and Bromley, L. L. (1957). An evaluation of sputum examination in chronic bronchitis. Lancet, 2, 1306-1309.","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_3","article-title":"Cowan and Steel's Manual for the Identification of Medical Bacteria","author":"Cowan, S.T.","year":"1974","unstructured":"Cowan, S. T. (1974). Cowan and Steel's Manual for the Identification of Medical Bacteria, 2nd edition. 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Bacteriology of the lower respiratory tract as determined by fiber-optic bronchoscopy and transtracheal aspiration. Journal ofInfectious Diseases, 134, 428-435.","journal-title":"Journal ofInfectious Diseases"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1099\/00222615-6-2-187","article-title":"A rapid slide agglutination method for typing pneumococci by means of specific antibody adsorbed to protein A-containing staphylococci","volume":"6","author":"Kronvall, G.","year":"1973","unstructured":"Kronvall, G. (1973). A rapid slide agglutination method for typing pneumococci by means of specific antibody adsorbed to protein A-containing staphylococci. Journal ofMedical Microbiology, 6, 187-190.","journal-title":"Journal ofMedical Microbiology"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"339","article-title":"Microscopic and bacteriologic analysis of expectorated sputum","volume":"50","author":"Murray, P.R.; Washington, J.A.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Murray, P. R., and Washington, J. A. (1975). Microscopic and bacteriologic analysis of expectorated sputum. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 50, 339-344.","journal-title":"Mayo Clinic Proceedings"},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"154","volume-title":"Significance of enterobacteria and pseudomonas in sputum. In Microbiology of the Seventies","author":"Percival, A.; Roberts, C.","year":"1971","unstructured":"Percival, A., and Roberts, C. (1971). Significance of enterobacteria and pseudomonas in sputum. In Microbiology of the Seventies, edited by F. J. Baker, pp. 154-165. Butterworth, London."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"831","article-title":"Diagnostic and therapeutic advantages of serial quantitative cultures of fresh sputum in acute bacterial pneumonia","volume":"100","author":"Pirtle, J.K.; Monroe, P.W.; Smalley, T.K.; Mohr, J.A.; Rhoades, E.R.","year":"1969","unstructured":"Pirtle, J. K., Monroe, P. W., Smalley, T. K., Mohr, J. A., and Rhoades, E. R. (1969). Diagnostic and therapeutic advantages of serial quantitative cultures of fresh sputum in acute bacterial pneumonia. American Review of Respiratory Diseases, 100, 831-838.","journal-title":"American Review of Respiratory Diseases"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.29.3.187","article-title":"Use of counter and rocket immunoelectrophoresis in acute respiratory Evaluation of some methods for the laboratory examination oJ sputum infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae","volume":"29","author":"Spencer, R.C.; Savage, M.A.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Spencer, R. C., and Savage, M. A. (1976). Use of counter and rocket immunoelectrophoresis in acute respiratory Evaluation of some methods for the laboratory examination oJ sputum infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. 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(1974). Pneumococcal antigen in sputum (Letter). Lancet, 1, 879.","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.30.5.417","article-title":"Routine laboratory assessment of postoperative chest infection: a prospective study","volume":"30","author":"Wilkinson, P.J.; Ball, A.J.; Doran, J.; Gillespie, W.A.; Orton, V.S.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Wilkinson, P. J., Ball, A. J., Doran, J., Gillespie, W. A., and Orton, V. S. (1977). Routine laboratory assessment of postoperative chest infection: a prospective study. 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