title: Danger of sputum purulence screens in culture of Legionella species.
abstract: Previous studies have shown the benefit of sputum purulence screens in routine bacterial culture. We have correlated 944 sputum smear and Legionella pneumophila culture results and demonstrated that 47 to 84% of L. pneumophila-positive samples would have been discarded by using established sputum purulence screens. We recommend acceptance of all specimens submitted for Legionella culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine 43210.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Plouffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013492:Suppuration / Q000382:microbiology