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PubMed1996

Sputum induction for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Confirmation of tuberculosis in young children is difficult as they seldom expectorate sputum. Gastric aspirates are invasive and stressful and like laryngeal swabs are seldom smear positive. Induction of sputum by nebulised hypertonic saline (3%) was attempted in 30 Malawian children aged 3-15 years and was successful in 29. Four sputa were smear positive and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from three of them. A further four sputa were culture positive though smear negative. In all, the diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed in eight (28%) of 29 children. The presence of polymorphonuclear cells in the specimen was indicative of sputum, in contrast to epithelial cells which originate from saliva. A predominance of polymorphonuclear cells in specimens was more common in older children and these specimens were more likely to be smear positive or culture positive. Sputum induction is a useful method for the confirmation of tuberculosis and is possible in young children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Use of cough swabs in a cystic fibrosis clinic.

We audited prospectively 322 cough swabs taken from cystic fibrosis children and compared cough swabs with concomitant sputum samples in 30 expectorating patients. A positive cough swab is a strong predictor of sputum culture. However, a negative cough swab does not rule out infection. Persistent symptoms should be further investigated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Role of doxapram in reducing pulmonary complications after major surgery.

In a double-blind study patients given a single dose of doxapram 1-5-2-0 mg/kg combined with morphine postoperatively had a significantly lower incidence of reflex postoperative cough and expectoration of purulent sputum than patients given morphine alone. They also had significantly higher arterial oxygen tensions five days postoperatively. Smaller differences were found with naloxone combined with morphine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Chest physiotherapy in primary pneumonia.

One hundred and seventy one patients with primary pneumonia entered a single blind, placebo controlled trial of physiotherapy. Treatment was allocated at random, physiotherapy consisting of postural drainage, external help with breathing, percussion, and vibration and the controls receiving advice on expectoration, deep breathing, and how to exercise to avoid thrombosis. Principles of pharmaceutical management were the same in the two groups. There was no objective evidence that daily physiotherapy helped during the acute phase of the disease. On the contrary, in younger patients, smokers, and patients with interstitial pneumonia physiotherapy appeared to prolong the duration of fever as well as the hospital stay. It is concluded that chest physiotherapy is at best useless in patients with primary infectious pneumonia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Peak expiratory flow in symptomless elderly smokers and ex-smokers.

Values of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in 142 current smokers (116 men, 26 women) and 108 ex-smokers (88 men, 20 women) aged 55 or over were compared with the predicted values obtained in lifelong nonsmokers of the same age range. None of the subjects had been liable during childhood or subsequently to expectoration, lower respiratory tract infection, wheeze, or shortness of breath. Observed values of PEF were expressed as differences from predicted. Analysis of the relation between smoking state and ventilatory function in the men disclosed significant reductions of PEF in current smokers, the deficits increasing with the amount smoked from a mean of 48.1 l/min in those smoking fewer than 20 cigarettes a day to 73.3 l/min in smokers of 20 or more a day. Significant reductions of PEF were also found in women who were currently smoking (mean 47.4 l/min) and in male ex-smokers of 20 or more cigarettes a day (mean 27.8 l/min). There was no significant reduction of PEF in male or female ex-smokers of fewer than 20 cigarettes a day. These findings suggest that factors besides smoking are concerned in the development of irreversible airflow obstruction.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Systematic review of randomised controlled trials of over the counter cough medicines for acute cough in adults.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether over the counter cough medicines are effective for acute cough in adults. DESIGN: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Search of the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group specialised register, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, Embase, and the UK Department of Health National Research Register in all languages. INCLUDED STUDIES: All randomised controlled trials that compared oral over the counter cough preparations with placebo in adults with acute cough due to upper respiratory tract infection in ambulatory settings and that had cough symptoms as an outcome. RESULTS: 15 trials involving 2166 participants met all the inclusion criteria. Antihistamines seemed to be no better than placebo. There was conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of antitussives, expectorants, antihistamine-decongestant combinations, and other drug combinations compared with placebo. CONCLUSION: Over the counter cough medicines for acute cough cannot be recommended because there is no good evidence for their effectiveness. Even when trials had significant results, the effect sizes were small and of doubtful clinical relevance. Because of the small number of trials in each category, the results have to be interpreted cautiously.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Use of PCR in routine diagnosis of treated and untreated pulmonary tuberculosis.

AIMS: To assess the routine use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in expectorated sputum specimens. METHODS: A pair of primers (20-mer) were designed to amplify the 38 kilodalton protein of M tuberculosis. The specificity of the assay was evaluated in 31 M tuberculosis strains, 15 atypical mycobacterium species, and several commensal bacteria of the upper respiratory tract. The assay was subsequently applied to 519 sputum specimens from 85 inpatients of a chest hospital in Hong Kong. RESULTS: An amplified product of 239 base pairs was found in all M tuberculosis strains, standard strains of M bovis, and M africanum but not in the other bacterial strains tested. For the 51 patients with pulmonary radiographic lesions, the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was subsequently confirmed by both culture and PCR in 41 of them. Five patients who were treated before admission were positive by PCR alone. All but one patient in the control group (patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive airway diseases) or those with atypical mycobacterial diseases were PCR negative. The PCR remained positive after four weeks of anti-tuberculosis treatment in 29 patients, 16 of whom had become culture negative. CONCLUSION: This PCR assay is a useful technique for the diagnosis of untreated and recently treated cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Simple method for quantifying viable bacterial numbers in sputum.

AIMS: To establish a simple method of quantitative culture for determining the viable bacterial numbers present in expectorated sputum samples. METHODS: Sputum samples were homogenised with dithiothreitol, sterile saline or glass beads to determine which method recovered the greatest number of viable bacteria. Culture broths were also incubated with dithiothreitol and sampled over time to determine its effect on bacterial viability. Sputum samples homogenised with dithiothreitol were diluted in sterile saline and sampled using either standard bacteriological loops or a precision pipette to determine which method resulted in the least variation. RESULTS: Homogenisation of sputum using dithiothreitol increased the recovery of viable bacteria compared with sterile glass beads and/or saline, with no apparent effect on bacterial viability when incubated with culture broths. By inoculating agar plates with 10(-3), 10(-4) and 10(-5) dilutions of the homogenised sputum sample, all potential pathogens could easily be identified. A 10 microliter sample volume dispensed by precision pipette and spread with a "hockey stick" resulted in the least variation between plates (less than 16%) and an even distribution of bacterial colonies. Numbers of viable bacteria recovered from different aliquots of individual sputum samples were generally of the same order of magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: This method represents a relatively quick and simple technique for accurately quantifying viable bacteria present in sputum samples. The use of a small portion appears to be representative of the sample as a whole.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed2001

Improved cultural detection of Burkholderia cepacia from sputum in patients with cystic fibrosis.

AIMS: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of two selective media for the isolation of Burkholderia cepacia from sputum specimens in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS: In total, 149 expectorated sputum specimens from 113 patients with CF (32 cepacia colonised patients and 81 non-cepacia colonised patients) attending three CF centres were examined for the presence of B cepacia on two selective media: (1) MAST selective agar, a commercially available selective medium widely used in the UK and (2) BCSA (B cepacia selective agar), a new medium recently described, which is used predominantly in North America. RESULTS: Burkholderia cepacia was isolated from 53 of 149 (35.6%) specimens examined, representing 32 of 113 (28.3%) patients, using both the MAST and BCSA media. Growth was most rapid on BCSA with all (53 of 53) isolates detectable after 48 hours, compared with 50 of the 53 isolates on MAST agar, with the remaining three isolates detectable at five days. Twenty eight contaminants were identified on MAST agar and 13 on BCSA agar; mainly Alcaligenes xylosoxidans and yeast on MAST agar and Flavobacterium indologenes on BCSA medium. BCSA was equivalent to MAST agar in its ability to isolate B cepacia from patients with CF with a history of B cepacia infection. CONCLUSIONS: The increased selectivity and reduced time to detection of BCSA makes it an attractive alternative to MAST. However, its present limited commercial availability in the UK may delay its use in routine diagnostic laboratories because of complications with media preparation and quality control.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Base of tongue varices associated with portal hypertension.

A symptomatic case of tongue base varices in a patient with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis is presented. There are no previously documented cases in the world literature. Oesophageal varices may not be the only source of expectorated blood in a patient with portal hypertension.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Audit of bronchial artery embolisation in a specialist respiratory centre.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the use of bronchial arteriography and embolisation for controlling haemoptysis. DESIGN: Retrospective review of radiological and clinical data. SETTING: Brompton and National Heart Hospitals. PATIENTS: 35 patients with severe pulmonary disease in whom 58 bronchial arteriograms were obtained between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1989 with the intention of bronchial artery embolisation for controlling haemoptysis. MAIN MEASURES: Rate of technical success and cessation of haemoptysis; detailed evaluation of patients, particularly those with major haemoptysis (> 100 ml expectorated blood); and retrospective assessment of the appropriateness of the procedure in each. RESULTS: 58 procedures were performed, nine of which were unsuitable for detailed analysis. Nine procedures were for minor haemoptysis, which subsequently recurred, and 40 for recent major haemoptysis in 26 patients with cystic fibrosis (16) aspergilloma (six), bronchiectasis (three), and an unknown diagnosis (one). The median total volume of haemoptysis in the episode before the procedure was 680 ml (range 270-2200 ml). Embolisation was technically successful in 33/40 procedures, in 17 of which, however, major haemoptysis recurred within 10 days of the procedure, leaving 16 clinically and technically successful procedures in 15 patients. Five patients (three with aspergilloma, two with cystic fibrosis) died of haemoptysis despite attempted embolisation. CONCLUSION: Success rate of bronchial artery embolisation was 40%(16/40). IMPLICATIONS: Bronchial artery embolisation is probably not justified for minor haemoptysis or when performed more than one week after a major haemoptysis. Repeat arteriograms during a single period of haemoptysis are seldom useful. With these criteria 43% fewer procedures would have been performed with no loss of clinical benefit.

Angiography↗
PubMed2000

Bcl-2 expression in sputum eosinophils in patients with acute asthma.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils play a pivotal role in asthmatic airway inflammation. Apoptosis is thought to be critically relevant in promoting the clearance of inflammatory cells and the resolution of inflammation. Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis in cellular systems. A study was undertaken to determine whether bcl-2 expression in sputum reflects the clinical severity of patients with asthma. The relationship between bcl-2 expression in sputum eosinophils and eosinophil activation markers such as interleukin (IL)-5 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in sputum supernatant was evaluated. METHODS: Sputum was obtained from 18 patients with asthma. Fresh expectorated sputum separated from saliva was treated with an equal volume of dithiothreitol 0.1%, cytospun for cell differentials and bcl-2 stain, and the supernatant was collected for biochemical assay. Bcl-2+ eosinophils were stained using immunocytochemistry, ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay, and IL-5 was detected by sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: Twelve patients with severe or life threatening asthma had more bcl-2+ eosinophils (mean difference 46.8% (95% CI 27.0 to 66.6), p<0.01) and a higher ECP level (p<0.01) in the sputum than those with mild to moderate asthma (n = 6). IL-5 was frequently detected in patients with severe or life threatening asthma (11/12 versus 1/6, p<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between bcl-2+ eosinophils and ECP levels (r = 0.61, p<0.01) and between bcl-2+ eosinophils and IL-5 levels (r = 0.83, p<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between bcl-2+ eosinophils and FEV(1)/FVC (r = -0.54, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased expression of bcl-2 in eosinophils from sputum of subjects with severe asthma suggests that bcl-2 may prolong survival and decrease apoptosis of airway eosinophils in asthma.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Sputum induction as a research tool for sampling the airways of subjects with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Sputum induction (SI) has proved to be a reliable non-invasive tool for sampling inflammatory airway contents in asthma, with distinct advantages over collection of expectorated sputum (ES) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). A study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of SI and to assess if it might be an equally valuable outcome tool in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS: The safety of the procedure was examined and sample volume, cell counts, cytokine concentrations, and bacterial culture results obtained by SI, spontaneous ES, and fibreoptic bronchoscopy were compared in 10 adults with CF. RESULTS: SI was well tolerated and was preferred to BAL by all subjects. The mean (SE) sample volume obtained by SI was significantly greater than ES (6.74 (1.46) ml v 1.85 (0.33) ml, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the number of cells per ml of sample collected. There was a difference in the mean (SD) percentage of non-epithelial, non-squamous cells collected (67 (28)%, 86 (21)%, and 99 (1)% for ES, SI, and BAL, respectively). These percentage counts were different between ES and both SI and BAL (p=0.03 and p=0.006, respectively). Cell differential counts (excluding squamous cells) from all collection methods were similar (mean (SD) 84 (9)%, 87 (7)%, and 88 (11)% polymorphonuclear cells for ES, SI, and BAL, respectively). The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were the same in all three samples when corrected for dilution using urea concentration. The test specific detection rate for recovery of bacteriological pathogens was 79% for SI, 76% for ES, and 73% for BAL. CONCLUSION: SI offers safety advantages over BAL and may be a more representative airway outcome measurement in patients with CF.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effect of manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation on cough flow of normal subjects, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and patients with respiratory muscle weakness.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that cough effectiveness can be improved by assisted techniques. The effects of manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation on cough flow physiology are reported in this study. METHODS: The physiological actions and patient self-assessment of manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation were investigated in 29 subjects (nine normal subjects, eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), four subjects with respiratory muscle weakness (RMW) with scoliosis, and eight subjects with RMW without scoliosis). RESULTS: The peak cough expiratory flow rate and cough expiratory volume were not improved by manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation alone or in combination in normal subjects. The median increase in peak cough expiratory flow in subjects with RMW without scoliosis with manually assisted cough alone or in combination with mechanical insufflation of 84 l/min (95% confidence interval (CI) 19 to 122) and 144 l/min (95% CI 14 to 195), respectively, reflects improvement in the expulsive phase of coughing by these techniques. Manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation in combination raised peak expiratory flow rate more than either technique alone in this group. The abnormal chest shape in scoliotic subjects and the fixed inspiratory pressure used made effective manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation difficult in this group and no improvements were found. In patients with COPD manually assisted cough alone and in combination with mechanical insufflation decreased peak expiratory flow rate by 144 l/min (95% CI 25 to 259) and 135 l/min (95% CI 30 to 312), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Manually assisted cough and mechanical insufflation should be considered to assist expectoration of secretions in patients with RMW without scoliosis but not in those with scoliosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Dissolving foreign bodies in the trachea and bronchus.

Two young children inhaled sweets which dissolved in the tracheobronchial secretions and caused severe respiratory obstruction. The viscid fluid produced as the sweet dissolved was not expectorated and bronchoscopy was necessary. The oedema of the mucosa caused by the presence of a hyperosmolar sugar solution took up to 48 hours to resolve; antibiotics and steroid cover were considered necessary. The similarity of presentation with acute tracheobronchitis and the lack of reports in the literature suggest that such cases may be misdiagnosed.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1977

Bronchial secretion from normal human airways after inhalation of prostaglandin F2alpha, acetylcholine, histamine, and citric acid.

Sputum produced by normal subjects after inhalation of prostaglandin F2alpha, acetylcholine, histamine, and citric acid has been analysed. Prostaglandin F2alpha was the most effective of the drugs in promoting sputum production. The material expectorated after inhalation of prostaglandin F2alpha shows the characteristics of mucoid sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis. The apparent viscosity and the concentration of marker substances for bronchial glycoprotein was in the lower part of the range found in mucoid chronic bronchitic sputum. The concentration of marker substances for serum glycoproteins and tissue fluid transudate were below the range found in chronic bronchitis, indicating that, in disease states, in addition to bronchial mucus there is a marked tissue fluid transudate component. Sputum produced after inhalation of acetylcholine and histamine contained relatively more tissue fluid transudate than sputum produced after inhalation of prostaglandin F2alpha, Sputum produced after inhalation of prostaglandin F2alpha, is of special value in indicating the nature of secretion from normal airways.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

Role of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases.

From January 1976 to December 1981 mycobacteria were recovered for the first time from the respiratory tract of 179 patients. Twenty-three patients had undergone fibreoptic bronchoscopy during initial investigation after three or more expectorated sputum specimens were negative for acid-fast bacilli. Three of these patients had nodular lesions on the chest radiograph and the diagnosis of mycobacterial disease was made only after thoracotomy. In the remaining 20 patients bronchial brushings yielded a positive culture in 19, while bronchial brushing was negative in one patient in whom culture of sputum before bronchoscopy had been positive. In eight of these 19 patients (group A) bronchial brushing was the only source that gave a positive result from culture, while in 11 patients (group B) both bronchial brushing and prebronchoscopy sputum yielded positive cultures. When these two groups were compared no difference was seen in their clinical presentation or radiographic findings but there was a notable difference in the quality of the presentation or radiographic findings but there was a notable difference in the quality of the prebronchoscopy sputum. Six of eight patients in group A had poor prebronchoscopy sputum, while 10 of 11 in group B had good prebronchoscopy sputum. It is concluded that, if a patient is unable to produce sputum or is able to produce only a poor specimen, fibreoptic bronchoscopy may be a useful means of obtaining additional material for culture.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1986

Effect of four weeks' high dose ipratropium bromide treatment on lung mucociliary clearance.

In a randomised, double blind crossover study the effect of high dose ipratropium bromide (200 micrograms three times daily given by metered dose inhaler for four weeks) on lung mucociliary clearance and on the wet weight and mean apparent viscosity of sputum was compared with that of placebo. Six smokers, six ex-smokers, and three non-smokers (12 men and three women, median age 60 years) were studied. Eight subjects had chronic obstructive lung disease (median FEV1 46% predicted) and seven had asthma (FEV1 70% predicted). Seven subjects produced sputum regularly, two of whom had asthma. Clearance of secretions was measured by an inhaled radioaerosol technique. The number of coughs and the wet weight, radioactive content, and mean apparent viscosity of sputum produced during the six hour observation period were recorded, as was the mean wet weight of sputum produced during the last two 24 hour periods ending each treatment. Comparison with placebo showed that treatment with high dose ipratropium bromide was associated with a significant increase in the penetration index of inhaled particles, but there was no significant change in alveolar deposition of particles or in tracheobronchial clearance, uncorrected or corrected for sputum expectorated. The wet weight of sputum produced, its radioactive content, and mean apparent viscosity were similar after treatment with ipratropium bromide and placebo. These results show that high dose inhaled treatment with the synthetic anticholinergic bronchodilator ipratropium bromide for four weeks is not associated with detectable modification of the clearance of secretions from the lungs, or of sputum volume or viscosity.

Adult↗