A nurse is collecting a sputum specimen from a client for culture and sensitivity. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Collect 2 ml of sputum in an emesis basin
B.
Instruct the client to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to specimen collection
C.
Swab the oropharynx with a sterile swab
D.
Refrigerate the specimen until the time of transport to the laboratory
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Instruct the client to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to specimen collection.
Explanation
Collecting a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity testing is crucial in diagnosing respiratory infections and determining appropriate antibiotic therapy. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the specimen, several important steps must be taken.
Option A: Collect 2 ml of sputum in an emesis basin. This option is incorrect because the specimen should be collected in a sterile container, not an emesis basin. An emesis basin may not be sterile and could contaminate the specimen.
Option B: Instruct the client to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to specimen collection. This is the correct action. Rinsing the mouth helps to reduce oral contamination, which can skew the culture results. Sputum is expected to come from the lungs, and oral secretions may contain bacteria that are not representative of the lower respiratory tract. By using an antiseptic mouthwash, the nurse can help ensure that the sputum specimen reflects the client’s lung secretions more accurately.
Option C: Swab the oropharynx with a sterile swab. This option is inappropriate for a sputum sample, as swabbing the oropharynx does not provide a proper sputum sample. A swab would collect surface oropharyngeal secretions rather than deep lung secretions, which are required for accurate culture results.
Option D: Refrigerate the specimen until the time of transport to the laboratory. While it is important to transport the specimen promptly, refrigeration is not typically recommended because it can affect the viability of the organisms present in the sputum, leading to inaccurate results. Sputum specimens should ideally be processed as soon as possible.
In summary, rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to collection minimizes contamination and enhances the reliability of the sputum specimen for diagnostic testing, making Option B the best practice in this scenario.