What should be done in response to a sputum sample that has many ...

[saliriagwu]

What should be done in response to a sputum sample that has many epithelial cells in it?
 
  a. Repeat Gram stain.
  b. Sputum culture.
  c. Sputum sensitivity.
  d. Obtain new sputum sample.

Question 2

Which of the following Gram stain results suggests the most legitimate sputum sample in a pa-tient with pneumonia?
 
  a. Many epithelial cells and many pus cells
  b. Few pus cells and many epithelial cells
  c. Few pus cells and few epithelial cells
  d. Few epithelial cells and many pus cells

[mariahkathleeen]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Many epithelial cells indicate that the sample is merely saliva and should be discarded because it will not reflect the type of infection occurring in the lung.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
In such cases, the Gram stain will demonstrate few (<25 cells.

[saliriagwu]

Excellent

[phuda]

Gracias!