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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does My Sputum Gram's Stain Report Mean?

Hi,

I have been undergoing treatment for pneumonia for about 3 weeks now, and was asked to get a sputum gram's stain and AFB stain done(grams stain once, and AFB stain three days in a row). However, due to hardly any sputum generation, I have been able to submit only one sample up till now, about a week back. The Sputum Grams Stain result says 'few gram positive cocci in pairs and chains seen; Pus cells >25/LPF; Epithelial cells <05/LPF '. The Sputum AFB Stain result says 'No AFB seen on ZN smear.' What do these reports mean? Are they in any way indicative of active tuberculosis?
posted on Sat, 15 Mar 2014
Twitter Sun, 13 Apr 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 14 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
The interpretation of the sputum report is as follows:
The presence of pus cells on sputum examination suggests presence of infection.
Gram's stain is a special stain done to detect presence of bacterial infection.
The stain detects presence of spherical shaped bacteria called cocci.
Tuberculosis is ruled out since the ZN stain for acid fast bacilli is negative.
Thus, there is no evidence of tuberculosis on the sputum.
Presence of infection on sputum may require further antibiotic infection.


Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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What Does My Sputum Gram's Stain Report Mean?

Hello and welcome to HCM, The interpretation of the sputum report is as follows: The presence of pus cells on sputum examination suggests presence of infection. Gram s stain is a special stain done to detect presence of bacterial infection. The stain detects presence of spherical shaped bacteria called cocci. Tuberculosis is ruled out since the ZN stain for acid fast bacilli is negative. Thus, there is no evidence of tuberculosis on the sputum. Presence of infection on sputum may require further antibiotic infection. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal