sputum
sputum
Definition
spu·tum (spyo̵̅o̅t′əm)
noun pl. spu′ta-ə
saliva, usually mixed with mucus from the respiratory tract, ejected from the mouth
Etymology: L, that which is spit out < sputus, pp. of spuere, to spit
sputum
Usage Examples
Preposition: from
- subject: IL-8 has been detected in BAL fluid and sputum from such subjects and in the systemic circulation.
Converse of object
- induce: Outcomes included inflammatory cells in induced sputum and bronchial biopsies, and methacholine responsiveness.
- produce: Patients with Legionnaires ' disease usually have fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce sputum.
- have: Eleven of these mothers were sputum positive and the two children who died both had a sputum positive mother.
Adjective modifier
- purulent: For example, a person suffering with pneumococcal pneumonia may have chest pain, cough, purulent sputum, and fever.
- frothy: Frothy sputum on ascent, blood in the spit, the works.
- infected: Swallowed infected sputum has resulted in spread to the Peyer's patches of the ileum.
- bloody: He surfaced up to his waist and started shouting and groaning, with bloody sputum coming from his mouth.
- green: Green sputum does not necessarily mean that you have a secondary chest infection.
- blood-stained: Chest pains, or coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum.
Modifies a noun
- smear: Infection is most commonly acquired by aerosol spread from index cases, who are sputum smear positive.
- specimen: The GP may arrange for sputum specimens to be sent to the laboratory.
- induction: A possible factor is shown in the results of UV light intensity in the sputum induction room.
- sample: Please note an emergency request for a sputum sample should be accompanied by a laboratory call out.
- production: Abstract: In patients with COPD, chest infection causes an increase in sputum production.
- culture: Repeat episodes of pneumonia were defined by the presence of new pathogens on sputum culture.
Noun used with modifier
- and/or: Pulmonary tuberculosis is usually diagnosed by chest X-ray and/or sputum analysis ( microscopy and culture ); serological tests are increasingly available.
