Patient Name:_ ____________________________
Hospital Number:___________________________
Date issued:_______________________________
Issued by:_ _______________________________
• Clear your chest as advised by your physiotherapist.
• Take your medication and inhalers, if on them, as prescribed.
• Never allow medicines to run out.
• Keep a rescue antibiotic course at home. If this has been
agreed by your Respiratory Consultant or GP.
• Drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet and take regular
exercise.
• Do not smoke. Ask for help from your practice nurse / GP / local
Pharmacist / Stop Smoking Services if needed.
• Get your annual flu injection when offered.
• Avoid visiting anyone who is unwell with a cold, flu or chest
infection.
• Keep a supply of sputum pots in the house.
• Know how much sputum you cough up and its colour.
You can find a reference guide to the British Thoracic Society’s
Guideline for non-CF Bronchiectasis here:
https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/quality-improvement/guidelines/bronchiectasis-in-adults/
Signs:
• Feeling generally unwell.
• Coughing up more sticky sputum than usual – sputum is darker
or has changed colour.
• Worsening breathlessness.
• Feeling tired and lethargic.
Actions:
• Clear your chest more often.
• Take your medication and inhalers.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid the sputum getting too thick.
• Collect sputum sample and hand to GP as soon as possible
before starting any antibiotics. (If you cannot get to surgery that
day, keep sample in fridge overnight).
• Some colds get better without needing antibiotics. If there is
no change in the amount or colour of sputum, do not start
antibiotics.
• Seek help if needed. See page 7 for further advice.
Day to day (not during a chest infection)
Cough
(Please tick one)
I normally cough...
Most days of week
One or two days a week
A few days a month
Only with chest infections
Sputum (Please tick one)
I normally cough up sputum...
Most days of week
One or two days a week
A few days a month
Only with chest infections
What colour is it?
(Please tick one)
Clear
White
Light yellow or green
Dark yellow or green
Daily sputum volume
(Please tick one)
1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon
Half sputum pot
Full sputum pot or more
Condition of your sputum
Watery Sticky
Breathlessness
Walking around home
Walking outside on the level
Walking up a flight of stairs
Playing sports
I only become breathless with
chest infections
I never become breathless
Other usual symptoms
e.g. Wheezing, tiredness, fatigue
_________________________
________________________
Routine GP
If you feel that your Bronchiectasis is worse, but
there is no change in the amount, or stickiness,
or colour of your sputum, and no improvement
within 48 hours, make an appointment to see
your GP.
Action
Take sputum sample to your GP – do not start
antibiotics until you have seen your GP.
Urgent
• If you have a chest infection and you
feel unwell and you have more sputum
with a worsening colour, and worsening
breathlessness OR...
• If you are coughing up blood OR...
• If you have a chest pain when breathing in
Action
Collect sputum sample contact your GP and then
start recommended antibiotics immediately without
waiting for sputum result.
Emergency GP
or 999
• If you are confused or drowsy OR...
• Coughing up large amounts of blood OR...
• Severely breathless or breathless when
talking.
Action
• Call the emergency GP first.
• Collect sputum sample if feasible and
then start the recommended antibiotics
immediately without sputum result.
