Respiratory infections

Infective exacerbation of COPD (hospitalised)

Exacerbation of bronchiectasis

Suspected influenza (hospitalised)

• Sputum for bacterial culture
• Combined throat and nose swab in molecular sample solution for respiratory PCR (SARS-CoV2, Influenza A, Influenza B, RSV)

Don’t send saliva.

Pneumococcal urinary antigen is available to patients admitted to critical care areas or after discussion with a microbiologist.

Patients with HAP or aspiration do not routinely require respiratory PCR sampling.

Additional sputum samples may be useful, e.g. for legionella culture or TB studies.

Lower respiratory tract infections (including CAP, HAP, aspiration)

• Blood culture - if sepsis criteria fulfilled
• Sputum for bacterial culture
• Combined throat and nose swab in molecular sample solution for respiratory PCR (SARS-CoV2, Influenza A, Influenza B, RSV)
• Urine in universal container for legionella urinary antigen

• Pleural fluid in universal container (white) for microscopy and culture
• Consider sending pleural fluid in blood culture bottles – recovery of some organisms may be improved

Microscopy is not performed out-of-hours, any samples received overnight will be processed the next morning.