Use of cough swabs in a cystic fibrosis clinic

Arch Dis Child. 2001 Nov;85(5):438-9. doi: 10.1136/adc.85.5.438.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cough / etiology
  • Cough / microbiology*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Medical Audit
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / complications
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Sputum / microbiology