Westmead Hospital Reports Findings in Obesity, Fitness and Wellness (Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statement: The safe clinical use of sputum induction for bio-sampling of the lower airways in children and adults).

A report from Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia, discusses the safe clinical use of sputum induction for bio-sampling of the lower airways in children and adults. Sputum induction is a common method used to collect biological samples, but it has been associated with serious adverse events, including deaths. The position statement, commissioned by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, provides guidelines for the safe use of sputum induction, covering topics such as informed consent, infection control, and risk assessment. The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary group and has been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]