HomeAnswersInternal MedicinecoughCan the antibiotics I took before a month alter my sputum test results?

Will antibiotics affect the sputum report?

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Will antibiotics affect the sputum report?

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At July 11, 2017
Reviewed AtJune 26, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have cough for about a week. It is a mild one with a bit sore throat. So, I did my sputum test in a laboratory and the following are the results I received today. Acid fast bacilli smear - acid fast bacilli not detected. In sputum culture and sensitivity, culture - negative, organism - no pathogen isolated. Normal respiratory flora grown after 48 hours on incubation at 98.6°F. Many gram positive cocci seen in gram stain. Few pus cells seen and few epithelial cells are also seen. Please explain me what is the exact result from the above details. Do I have any illness? Is there any need to take medicine?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. We are here to help you. Your sputum stain says that you have lower respiratory tract infection. However, culture is negative which can occur due to antibiotic consumption prior to sputum collection. Treatment would be based on your symptoms. Please mention what symptoms you are having at present.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I took antibiotics before a month. Can it alter the medical results? And I took Glycomet tablet and Ulysses plus tablet before one week of sputum collection. Will it have any effect in the medical results? As of now I am having cough and heaviness of my body. I do not have other symptoms, but two weeks back I had slight body temperature. A small opaque region soft tissue was found in the right lower zone when chest PA x-ray was taken. What is that?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Yes, prior antibiotic can alter the results. If you are asymptomatic now then you may not take any medicine. If you are worried then the best way is to get repeat sputum for gram stain done. If it still shows gram positive cocci, then you may go ahead with the antibiotic course.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Anshul Varshney
Dr. Anshul Varshney

Internal Medicine

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