MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hello. I am very worried about the mucus coming from my throat. What you see is thousands of bacteria?

https://youtu.be/eEhWMM2J2KY

I don't see bacteria at all. Those big pieces look like fat cells or body tissue cells to me.

Thanks for the reply. but those little dots that move quickly inside the "bubbles"? aren't bacteria? I record now with 1000x to see exactly what i want to say.

https://youtu.be/KO3LQ_hymlI

I won't even take a guess at what that is in your sputum. You could, I suppose, put some streaks on a media plate and see what grows out. That said, I was a Registered Respiratory Practitioner for nearly 30 years, so I've see more snot than than you can imagine. If that's what a smear of my stuff looked like, I'd check with my doc. Seriously

I won't even take a guess at what that is in your sputum, if that is indeed mucoid material that you coughed up as a solid slug and not saliva. But... I was a Registered Respiratory Practitioner for nearly 30 years, and I've seen and dealt with more snot that you can imagine. The first thought was if you've been bringing up hockers regularly for a while, you might want to check with your doctor. Just a thought...

Sorry for the multiple posts. Not sure how that happened.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, this is sputum. You never saw something like that?

Folks, forum rules forbid asking for personal medical advice as well as giving one. No reason to frighten or alternatively soothe anyone here.

Also, don't use a microscope and/or Google to try and diagnose yourself - consult medical professionals!
On another note, cultured bacteria should be carefully smeared and flame fixed on a slide. Then use Gram's stain to colour code gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Details of how to do that probably can be found on Google!

Louise

I endorse the no medical advice policy, as have all the other respondents.

But based on occasionally examining my own snot I think the "bubbles" you think are full of "bacteria" are actually white blood cells packed with granules. The most common white cells are called neutrophils. They are full of granules used to fight bacteria and look much like what you photographed.

Clear mucous or snot has only a few white blood cells and yellow snot has a lot. Their presence doesn't tell whether or not you are sick. And your throat is always full of millions of bacteria all the time. Bacteria are likely in your photo but very hard to see clearly without special techniques and lots of practice.

Amateurs looking at medical specimens with microscopes doesn't usually generate any useful diagnostic information. It can be fun to look at your cheek cells, blood and body fluids, but for entertainment only.