New lung buddies: Staph and Pseudomonas

I had my sweat test today and got my sputum sample results back. They showed 2+ Staphylococcus aureus, and 2+ Pseudomonas aeruginosa 😭 thankfully the sensitivity test actually showed sensitivity to doxycycline and a couple of other relatively standard antibiotics which is good because Pseudomonas can be quite the bitch.

My concern is that I could pose a risk to other people. Most people I know and spend time with are immunocompetent, with normal lungs, but I do know people who aren’t, and I also travel on public transport a lot.

Should I be doing anything, other than — obviously — basic infection control stuff? I mean it’s not like I’m harbouring Cepacia or something like that but Pseudomonas can be really hard to eradicate if I passed it on to someone else. And what does the ‘2+’ bit mean? I really ought to know but I just don’t!

I also had a missed call from the CF nurse this evening and by the time I called back, she had left. She’ll call again tomorrow but that could have been my sweat test results dammit!

[Hidden]

ADDED Q: do I mention these if I have to go to hospital? Especially if I’m on the respiratory ward?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If your sweat test cones back positive for cf they should then be doing further tests for the dna. Depending on whether you have cf and which dna, the cf department would advise you of the protocols. Good luck with your results. At least if you are cf you will get drugs and services denied to us non cf bronchs.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yeah they also took a solid 14 vials of blood haha, for gene testing and fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and D -- I assume one vial will have been clotting studies to check on Vitamin K as well -- as I have had symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency for some time. My doc has also requested the results of my faecal elastase test be sent over from the other county where they were done, so now we wait. The nurse wasn't in today so didn't get the note that I had called back, but she will call on Monday with the results anyway as they will definitely be back by then if they weren't already when she called me. She did say that, if the results didn't come back the same day I had them done, she would ask the nurse to check on Friday, and if not then, then I would get them for sure on Monday.. so my assumption is either that she did get the results and was calling with them, or that it was unrelated/something in my blood tests.

One of my flatmates has *just* come down with some kind of cold/flu and feels 'very ill' so I am staying as far away from him as humanly possible! I'm also doing my Acapella more often and keeping as hydrated as possible.

Side Q: can anyone pass respiratory pseudomonas onto immunocompetent, non-lungf*cked people? Or can it only be passed on (potentially) to people with lung conditions or who are immunocompromised?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

To add to this, my non-CF bronch friend has PCD, does that change things or not?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If you have non cf bronchiectasis and not cystic fibrosis ( which you don’t know yet, ) you cannot pass pseudomonas to anybody, whatever they have. If you have cf you would only be able to pass a certain strain of pseudo to another cf when in very close contact with them.

You should stop stressing about this and concentrate on protecting yourself.

I do suggest though that you get cold and flu blocker today and keep it around your mouth and nose, hand sanitiser to use any time you have touched a surface in the house or have been in a supermarket, any public place., bacterial wipes for anywhere your flat mate has touched - and tell your flatmate to stay in their bedroom!

It’s interesting that you seem to be having interdisciplinary cooperation to try to find out what is wrong with you. Not usual in UK hospitals

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Looking at the tests they are doing, they seem to be making a thorough job of looking at all of the aspects of cystic fibrosis. Non cystic fibrosis patients don’t have the gut issues that they are looking at. I really hope for you that it comes back that you don’t have cf. If it does, you will get better treatment and management than any of the other lung conditions in the UK and lots of support. Please stop worrying about passing the pseudomonas to your friends. If they do not have cf, whatever their problems, you cannot pass it to them and your cf department will explain all of the issues to you.

It is they who should be concerned about infecting you with viruses etc. Do let us know the results of your tests. If you are non cf bronch I can help a bit with my lifetime of living with it but will have to leave cf to the experts.

[Tree20862 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, mention it at the hospital. They may need to isolate you from the susceptible.

[Hidden in reply to Tree20862]

You are wrong! Non cf patients colonised with pseudomonas cannot pass it to anybody else. Some cf patients can pass a particular strain to other cf patients when in very close proximity, owing to one of the dna componants of their condition. It is responses like yours which are leading to the ignorant and non justified stigmatisation of non cf bronchiectasis patients. I hope that clears it up for you.

[Hidden]

Please be assured that people colonised with pseudomonas who are non cf bronchiectasis cannot infect other people. There is a strain of pseudomonas which colonises some cystic fibrosis patients which they can pass to each other because of the particular genetic nature of their condition. My consultant is an expert in non cf bronchiectasis and is very sure of this.

Unfortunately there is a lot of mis information about this, particularly amongst the less well informed medical community. This is leading to stigmatisation of non cf bronch patients. No you do not have to tell anybody when you go to hospital. It is more important that you protect yourself from other people’s viruses and stay out of places where pseudomonas breeds such as steam rooms and jacuzzis. I hope that helped.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It isn’t currently known why I’m growing Pseudomonas, unfortunately. I get the results of my sweat test tomorrow but I don’t have signs of bronchiectasis on X-ray. I assume if the sweat test was negative that the doc will probably want a CT to have a look because as far as I understand, Pseudomonas isn’t common in asthma!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Bronch does not show on xrays. You will need a ct scan to diagnose it. I would have thought that they would have already done one if they are looking for cf. But maybe they do things the other way round. If the sweat test comes back negative make sure that you are passed to a bronch specialist. Cf and non cf bronchs just do become colonised with pseudomonas because of the damage in their lungs. I have had it since 1986. It is just a matter of keeping the numbers down. I nebulise ceftazidime on a permanent basis and take cipro if It starts having a party. Good luck, I hope that you find out what you do have so that you can set about managing it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That is interesting to know, though. So I’m guessing I’m not a risk to my non-pseudomonas-harbouring friend with non-CF bronchiectasis, or my immunocompromised friends?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

No you are not.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You just have to warch out that your non cf and immunosuppressed friends don’t pass their viruses and bugs to you!

[Hidden]

The 2+ is an indicator of how much pseudomonas or other bacteria is present in the sample. 2+ is relatively low. My current consultant and I were having a laugh about this last week as she told me that my last sample was 1+ and then comnented that we both knew that my previous consultant, who is the dr who taught the US about bronch and trained my con, still says that these indicators are a waste of time and useless.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Rings a bell actually, and I believe I’ve heard the same about them not really being particularly helpful clinically lol

[Hacienda]

This is all very interesting to Read, and Learn other Lung Conditions, some of it I don't understand, Though our Littlepom is so Knowledgable and Guides you through to getting the correct Diagnosis. Good Luck Hun, Am I right in assuming you are quite Young ? Please Keep asking for Advise. Stay Positive. xxx