Background: Accurate identification of lower respiratory tract pathogens is important in the management of cystic fibrosis patients.
Aim: To evaluate the cough plate as an alternative method of obtaining respiratory samples for microbiological culture.
Methods and results: Using sputum culture as the "gold standard", the cough plate method identified significantly more positive cases than either dry or moistened cough swabs. Of 20 patients who had a positive sputum culture, 16 had a positive culture on cough plate compared to seven positive cultures each on moistened swab and on dry swab respectively.
Conclusions: In this study cough plates were more sensitive than cough swabs in isolating respiratory pathogens in sputum producers. As patients prefer it, the cough plate merits further evaluation, particularly in non-sputum producers.