Antibiotic Conservation
Aotearoa
In a US study of the Gram stain and bacterial culture results from sputum samples, positive microscopy and culture results were found in 7/132 (5%) clear, white or cream sputum samples; and 35/147(24%) red, yellow, rusty, yellow-green or green samples.
Sputum colour for diagnosis of a bacterial infection in patients with acute cough
Scandinavian J Primary Health Care 2009
In a similar German study, bacteria were cultured from 6/105 (6%) sputum samples that were colourless and 22/136 (16%) sputum samples that were coloured yellow or green.
