Bronchiectasis and colonization

[tubelloabril]

Hello, my question is because I have mild bronchiectasis in my right bottom lobe. I never had any symptom except since last november when I started with a thick green sputum: a sputum sample showed staph aureus. Took Bactrim for 20 days (it was sensitive according to the antibiogram) and anything happend: staph aureus is still there. I dont know what to do, I still have this thick green sputum and my pumonologist doesnt give to it so much importance as I have no other symptom. Id like to know if you are colonized, how do you treat it, do you take abs, how is your sputum?

Thanks <3

[1947Mags]

Hello I have COPD and Bronchiectasis and have just finished my pulmonary rehab course which is 1 hour gentle exercise followed by talks about lung conditions and medication etc, during one of the talks the nurse discussed all inhalers when finished she asked if anyone was an inhaler she had not mentioned. I said yes that one of my inhalers was Flixotide 250 and was told you can't be on that it's for Asthma. she asked me to query it with my Lung Dr at my next hospital appointment which I did he stopped it immediately and this is the line on the letter he sent to my GP. I have stopped inhaled steroids due to airway colonisation. I have been on inhaled steroids for many years. Sorry this is so long winded and hope it may help. Take care.

[Hidden in reply to 1947Mags]

Very interesting 1947Mags. I have bronchiectasis and have decided to wean myself off fostair after doing a lot of reading about colonisation, hating the thin skin and bruising and a conversation with my bronch expert of many years.When I told her that I had been put on fostair by a registrar after several anaerobic infections and that I wanted to come off she questioned why, as I am not diagnosed as having asthma they have been treating me with asthma drugs for 11 years. Has she been asleep all these years? I am weaning myself off and she warned me that I may get an exacerbation. Well we will see.

[1947Mags in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying, I have been questioning these inhalers for a long time but all that ever happened was that they changed it to a different one. It can be very depressing trying to find the right information. My steroid inhalers must have cost the NHS thousand of pounds. Drs need to get there act together. Take care and keep researching.

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

Hi. Thanks. So are you colonized with any bug?

[1947Mags in reply to tubelloabril]

The one I keep getting over and over again is Haemophilus influenzae I finished one lot of antibiotics and steroids and back on them again today still waiting for the results of sputum test. I have spent about 12 to 15 months fighting this in hospital xmas day. I finally had a CT scan which showed the Bronchiectasis in January but it was not until the respiratory nurse 2 weeks ago told me about the steroid inhaler makes you think what is the point of seeing anyone.

[tubelloabril in reply to 1947Mags]

I see. Good luck, hope your sputum test was negative. Same for me with staph aureus.

[tubelloabril in reply to 1947Mags]

Hi. Thanks. So are you colonized with any bug?

[Hidden in reply to tubelloabril]

I have been colonised with pseudomonas since 1986. Once it is there it lurks in the lungs, even if it doesn’t show up on lab plates. The aim is to keep the numbers low enough to live with. This takes rigorous daily lung emptying and I nebulise ceftazidime on a long term basis. If I get a virus this can cause the pseudo to have a party and I take ciproxin. I have also had IV three times on my life but generally get by without resorting to it. I saw your replies from cofdrop and what she said about the amount and colour of the sputum and what is usual for you is so true. It is a matter of you and your docs chasing the bug and finding the right antibiotic in the right dose for long enough. I cannot stress enough the importance of clearing your lungs so that the bacteria cannot grow in fluid left in there.

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! Good luck

[VELoce21 in reply to Hidden]

I too have pseudomonas colonisation which I understand will always be with me that's what The microbiologist at the hospital advised my GP! It flares up with pain or increased secretions. I try to put it out of my mind. Good luck littlepom

[Claudine]

I have similar story. I was on Seretide for years until pseudomonas diagnosis on top of the Bronchiectasis. Specialist decided to take me off Seretide because of the steroid element which was not helping and may have been contributing. I am now on Duaklir which, incidentally, is a lot cheaper.

[tubelloabril in reply to Claudine]

Hi. Thanks. So are you colonized with any bug?

[tubelloabril in reply to Claudine]

Hi. Thanks. So are you colonized with any bug?

[Claudine in reply to tubelloabril]

Oh yes, colonised with pseudomonas aeruginosa. I take antibiotics (Azithromycin) in the winter. Off them now until about Sept./Oct. I think there are plenty of us on this site who have the same regime. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Claudine]

Hi Claudine, I am beginning to wonder how many of us bronchs who do not also have asthma have been on these steroid inhalers for years. I have been reading up on study results since the 1990s and the conclusion seems to be that it has important uses for asthma and copd but actually makes no difference to the breathing of bronchs except that infections and pneumonia may possibly develop on long term use. So WHY in the light of all of these studies have they kept us on them.

[Claudine in reply to Hidden]

It seems that we are helping the medics to understand better, one way or another. They certainly seem to need some help!

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

I'm in salbutamol. Is it a steroid? Sorry i'm new and confused

[Hidden in reply to tubelloabril]

I do so wish that medics would explain to us about the drugs we take. Salbutamol is not a steroid. It is also known as ventolin. It is a bronchodilator. This means that it is meant to open the airways to make breathing easier. It is an asthma drug rather than a bronchiectasis drug but because we are all different some bronchs find it useful. Steroid inhalers are more useful in reducing inflammation and are often combined with a bronchodilator in certain inhalers. For example-fostair.

[MMog]

Hi I’ve bronciectasis and colonised with staph aureus. Been a few years now, the consultant doesn’t seem over concerned. When I take flucloxacillin the next sample for testing is sometimes clear, but it isn’t long until the staph is back.

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

Hello! Have you also got any inmune health problem? I have only bronchiectasis in my bottom right lobe and my pulmonologist says i must get rid of staph since i don't have any other issue so i'm confused. Where do you have bronchiectasis? Have you tried to eradicate ir when you first discovered? Have you another issue with your inmune system or something like that? Sorry for asking a lot but i'm confused

[MMog]

Hi, my bronchiectasis is extensive, both lungs, most parts, including a collapsed area now, although even that didn’t seem to raise any concerns from the consultant. Not aware of any immune health problems unless hypothyoidism counts. GPs gave antibiotic course after antibiotic course when first diagnosed, about five years ago, but since under the consultant, I’m encouraged to only have antibiotics when I’ve lots of symptoms and feel really ill. Otherwise untreated.

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

I understand. Same to me, my GP doesnt consider it has to be treated as it doesnt cause me any other symptom than sputum, green and thick. Which symptoms do you have? Do you have MRSA or MSSA?

[MMog in reply to tubelloabril]

Not got either of those, it just comes up as staph aureus. Loads of coughing, tiredness, poor sleep, headachy (don’t know if that is bronchiectasis or thyroid though). Fully functioning though!

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

Hi MMog. I was rereading those post as I am still fighting again staph aureus... could you please tell me, what does your dr thinks about being colonized with staph aureus? are you being treated for this with antibiotics, or being untreated despite you don't have an exacerbation?

Do you have daily thick green sputum when you are well? I do...

[MMog in reply to tubelloabril]

Hello Tubelloabril. How are you feeling at the moment? I seem to be permanently colonised with the staph aureus, apart from a very short time after a course of flucloxocyllin, when a sputum test comes back clear. The next one is always back to at least moderate growth of staph aureus. My consultant has moved on, and, after one year’s wait for an appointment, after seeing a locum last time, this time I saw a specialist nurse. So, I’m not feeling particularly looked after. No treatment apart from when the cough gets out of control and I need a course of Flucloxocyllin. I’m thinking of posting about this change from consultant to nurse, to gauge the experience of others. Sputum really variable, some dark thick stuff, some clear stuff.

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

HI! thanks for answering MMog. I fell OK, staph aureus doesn't give me any other symptoms besides a lot of thick green sputum... but I hate it and it do really worries me that I am not being treated (despite I feel good), because I wonder what is going on inside my lungs? My pulmonologist doesn't seem to be concerned about staph, but it really worries me. I am 29, would you mind to tell me how long have you been dealing with staph? How old are you? It do really worries me that my bronchiectasis would get worse because of this... sorry if I don't write quite properly but I am a Spanish speaker.

[MMog in reply to tubelloabril]

Hi, I was diagnosed at 42, (now 49), staph from the start, but had chest and cough problems for many years before so was late diagnosed. A terrible chest infection at five months pregnancy couldn’t be treated with antibiotics, lasting until after the birth of my daughter. Finally, after a chest x-ray and consultant referral, I was diagnosed. Fairly recently my energy levels and breathlessness has increased. The Specialist Nurse was unconcerned, just saying that is the progression of my disease. Not very reassuring.

[MMog in reply to MMog]

Sorry, that should have said energy levels decreased. Fatigued.

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

I see. My energy levels are down too !! Which symptoms do you have from staph when you are stable? Do you have cough?

[MMog in reply to tubelloabril]

Yes, a cough that isn’t very effective. Daily physio helps but still lots of coughing. My bronchiectasis is extensive and I’ve a collapsed lobe.

[tubelloabril in reply to MMog]

I dont have cough thanks God. Do you know what caused your bronchiectasis?

[Izb1]

Hi tubelloabril, how confusing for people on what inhalers to use. I was treated for asthma for years until diagnosed with bronchiectasis , yet the consultant at the hospital still informed my gp to prescibe clenil, which is a steroid. After reading up and finding that the airways in bronch people are already enlarged I stopped using clenil and only use salbutamol when needed. I do hope you find the right treatment for your problem and get better soon. Irene x

[Hacienda]

Hola Carino. En Inglese...... Salbutamol Symbicort is a Steroid Base. Ventolin is not. There are so many different Inhalers here in the UK now, some are Steroid, some are not. I know your Country won't have the same. It is always Wise to Speak to a Respiritory /Medical person. We all have Different Lung Problems and not Two people are the same regarding their Medication. Buen Suelte Carino, Abrazos y Besitos. Carolina xxxx

[Liziey]

Hi tubelloadbril , I had staph bag 2015 which I took colomisine injection oral 2ml issued by my consultant. Before I had taken doclacycline and refacing without any change. This all cream staph and psuedomona. I know dealing with the same and I am on my third type of antibiotics and steroids. My struggle is antibiotics all first line not working on me. I react most antibiotics.

[tubelloabril in reply to Liziey]

Hi Liziey! Sorry i can't understand well ir you managed to get rid of staph or not?