Routine laboratory assessment of postoperative chest infection: a prospective study.

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Abstract
Postoperative chest infection was studied prospectively in 73 patients in order to evaluate standard laboratory methods of sputum examination and to relate the results to the patients'' clinical state and to antibiotic therapy. When a culture medium selective for hemophilus was used in addition to unselective media, homogenization of the specimen gave no advantage. Laboratory and clinical findings usually corresponded well. Profuse growths of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae were clearly associated with clinical evidence of chest infection but other gram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus much less so. Coliforms were more promonient after antibiotic therapy.