Ascultate
To listen with a stethoscope. For the gastric aspirate collection, before water is instilled into the tube, a bolus of air should be pushed through a syringe into the tube, while listening with a stethoscope over the patient’s stomach. If the tube is in the correct location, in the stomach and not the airway, a loud gurgle will be heard when listening with a stethoscope over the patient’s stomach.
Gastric Aspirate
This procedure collects a small amount of mucus from the patient’s stomach. This allows for the culturing of mucus.
Induced sputum
This is the sputum or mucus that is collected by aerosolizing a saline solution and having the patient breathe deeply and then cough into a cup.
M. tuberculosis
Also known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mtb. This germ causes TB and a positive TB skin test.
NPO
Also known as “Nothing per os.” This means the patient should NOT eat or drink anything in the hours before a gastric procedure. Babies should be NPO for 3-4 hours before a gastric aspirate collection. Toddlers and older children should be NPO 6-8 hours before the gastric aspirate procedure.
Papoose board
This is a board that has large Velcro straps to restrain a child from moving during the gastric aspirate procedure.
Latent TB Infection
Also known as LTBI. Although the germ that causes TB is not growing or active, the germ is still alive and latent when a patient has a positive TB skin test, a negative chest radiograph, no symptoms and a normal physical exam. The immune system is aware of the germ’s presence and the germ can become active at any time.
Tuberculosis
Also known as TB. This is the disease caused by the TB germ. TB usually causes lung infection, but almost any part of the body can be involved. Adults are almost always sick when they have tuberculosis, but children frequently have very modest, subtle or no symptoms.