Correlation between sputum smear examination and bacterial culture results

Objective To analyze the correlation between sputum smear examination(microscopy)and bacterial culture results.Methods Sputum specimens were performed sputum smear and Gram's staining before bacterial culture,and sputum cultured bacteria were also performed sputum smear and Gram's staining,then observed under microscope.The staining characteristics and appearance of two groups were evaluated;then further identification and antimierobial susceptibility tests were carried out.Results Five hundred and forty pathogens were isolated from 786 qualified samples,the positive rate was 68.70%,there were 185 strains of Gram-positive cocci,316 strains of Gram-negative bacilli and 39 strains of fungi.The coincidence between the results of two groups was 72.01%(566/786).The sensitivity of sputum smear was 77.78%,specificity 59.35%,positive predictive value 80.77%,negative predictive value 54.89%.Conclusion There is a high coincidence rate between the results of sputum smear and bacterial culture,which can improve the detection rate of pathogenic bacteria.