The Importance of Mucus in Detecting Lung Infections

I've listened to many patient education webinars by bronchiectasis expert Dr. James Chalmers and he often talks about his love of sputum. And, he shares a favorite slide with his audience – a sputum color chart.

Mucus is part of the body's defense system. It helps protect the lungs from infection by trapping bacteria and other harmful particles. When the lungs are infected, the mucus can become thicker and more greenish in color. This is because the infection triggers the release of an enzyme called myeloperoxidase (MPO), which gives the mucus its green color.


Myeloperoxidase (MPO) contributes to immune function primarily through its role in neutrophils where it helps combat pathogens. MPO produces hypochlorous acid and other reactive oxidants, potent antimicrobial agents that kill bacteria and other pathogens within phagosomes.


 Additionally, MPO is involved in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) which capture and neutralize microbes. However, excessive MPO activity can also lead to tissue damage and contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases.


That is why the best time to treat a lung infection is early on. Early treatment can help to prevent the infection from causing more damage to our already scarred bronchiectatic lungs. 

When we notice our mucus has become darker or more greenish, we should notify our doctor. Also, ask to bring in a sputum sample for analysis.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a few sterile sputum cups on hand. In some cases, we might even have what’s called a “standing order” at a laboratory. This allows us to bring in our sample at any time and the instructions on file tell the lab what to do with our sample.

A standing order for BE often includes testing for:

🦠regular respiratory bacteria
🦠fungi
🦠mycobacteria with an Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) test. These bacteria are often slow growing and results can take up to 8 weeks.

It can be overwhelming and demoralizing to deal with an infection. But let’s not deny what we feel and see. Let’s advocate for early detection and treatment.

#LungHealth #MucusMatters #SputumAnalysis #InfectionDetection #Bronchiectasis #EarlyTreatment #Myeloperoxidase #RespiratoryCare #ImmuneFunction #PatientAdvocacy