Hello, The following are few interpretations based on the color of sputum: 1) Clear, white, or gray: usually indicates healthy lungs, but a lot of sputum may indicate a lung disease, allergy, or viral infection 2) Dark yellow or green: can indicate a bacterial or viral infection, such as pneumonia, or cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that involves excess mucus buildup 3) Brown: often occurs in people who smoke and those with black lung disease, a condition resulting from exposure to coal dust 4) Pink: can indicate pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs), from a condition such as congestive heart failure 5) Red: can be a sign of an internal injury, lung cancer, or a pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a blood clot on the lung that needs immediate medical attention Sputum in infections of klebsiella pneumoniae is blood tinged or rust colored and is described currant jelly. Probably your pneumonia was due to klebsiella. The following are causes of recurrent pneumonia: 1) Smoking 2) Chronic diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 3) Immunocompromised conditions like uncontrolled diabetes 4) Hospital acquired pneumoniae when admitted to hospital for some other reason You need to work with your physician in tracing your risk factors for recurrent pneumonia. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist