Respiratory: Collecting a sputum specimen
Transcript
Sometimes, the clients you care for may have respiratory complaints. A healthcare provider may order a sputum specimen for a client they suspect may have a respiratory infection, such as pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses, like lung cancer.
A nurse may delegate collection of the sputum specimen to a nursing assistant. A sputum specimen is simply a sample of sputum from a particular client.
Sputum, sometimes referred to as “phlegm,” is made up of mucus as well as some other respiratory secretions that can be coughed up, or expectorated, from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.
If a client is coughing or spitting up blood, or sputum that contains blood, that’s called hemoptysis, where “hemo-” refers to blood, and “-ptysis” refers to spitting up.
Now, before collecting a sputum specimen, there are a few things you should keep in mind and a few supplies you’ll need to gather and prepare.
Coughing up or spitting up mucus into a cup can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing for a client.
So, it’s important you ensure client privacy and comfort as much as possible throughout the duration of the procedure.
Be sure you’re collecting sputum, which is produced in the respiratory tract, and not saliva or spit, which is produced in the mouth.
The supplies you’ll need are clean gloves, a small cup of water, an emesis basin, a sterile specimen container with its lid, facial tissues, disinfectant wipes, client identification labels, the laboratory requisition form, and a small biohazard plastic bag.
All right, first, wash your hands, put on some clean gloves, and greet the client. Identify them using two identifiers: usually their full name and birth date, being sure to check that information against the client’s identification bracelet, labels, and laboratory requisition form.
Next, provide the client with a small cup of water to rinse their mouth in order to clear away any microbes that may be present in their mouth; ask them to spit into an emesis basin after rinsing.
Be sure to avoid using mouthwash as it may kill microbes in the sputum and, consequently, lead to inaccurate test results.
Key Takeaways
A sputum specimen is a sample of mucus and other secretions from deep within the respiratory tract that is coughed up by a patient and collected when a respiratory infection is suspected. It is used to diagnose and monitor lung infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), and bronchitis.
Collecting a sputum specimen can be uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassing for patients. So, a healthcare provider needs to maintain patient comfort and privacy as much as possible. The procedure involves having the patient first rinse their mouth with water and then take a few deep breaths followed by forceful coughs directly into a specimen container, which you subsequently seal, label, place in a biohazard bag, and send to the laboratory. After the procedure, remember to report any unusual signs or symptoms to the nurse and document your observations.