Is pseudamonas contagious??

[Leafsweeper]

Hi, Does anyone know if my pseudamonas could be transmitted to those who live in close proximity?

I always thought not but I've been worried about my OH's persistent cough - I know there could be many other reasons for his cough and his recent sputum test was clear but....

[Swizzy]

No pseudomonas cannot be passed from person to person except from some cystic fibrosis patients to each other when they in hospital ward situations.Other people with pseudomonas in their lungs are more at risk from catching viruses because the pseudomonas hiding in their lungs takes advantage of the virus to breed and cause an exacerbation. Maybe your OH has this horrible 100 day cough.

[Leafsweeper in reply to Swizzy]

Thanks for this Swizzy - your comments are reassuring - hopefully it's something that they'll sort out for him and he's not afflicted with same respiratory issues as I am. Though I know pseudamonas is found in soil and water I've still been worrying in case I've somehow breathed it out at him, stupid as it sounds.

[Mooka in reply to Leafsweeper]

As I understand it people without lung conditions can live with pseudonymous and not have any ill effects. It tends to lurk around in hospitals and public areas and in dodgy lungs. I hope your husbands cough improves soon.

[Leafsweeper]

Many thanks for this Mooka - it's reassuring that no one thinks they've passed it on to anyone they live with.

[BionicLady]

I can only go by my hospital stays but the docs tend to keep me away from other patients if I have pseudo, this would mainly be other patients who have other lung conditions, particularly if someone has Bronchiectasis which I understand it can be passed on, not sure how accurate this is but again, I'm going by my past experiences. I've been living with pseudo for about 13 or so years and every so often it rears it's ugly head!

I hope this hasn't confused you.

[Leafsweeper in reply to BionicLady]

Thanks for this - it's reassuring to know that you can host pseudamonas without posing a risk to most people you come into contact with - I'm still at the stage where I don't entirely understand the difference between culture positivity and infection. Take care and stay well!

[wheezybronch]

Pseudomonas is very contagious, however, it is in the environment, earth, water furniture etc., it even lives in nasal passages, so people with a healthy immune system are unlikely to develop a full blown infection. This is often a hospital infection and attacks people already ill and being treated, steroids can make you more susceptible.. If you are worried ask your OH to get a sputum test, Pseudomonas will invariably (but not always) be a delightful fluorescent green, or yellow in colour.

[Leafsweeper in reply to wheezybronch]

Thanks so much for this. OH 's sputum culture was murky , not a gorgeous green or yellow, but negative. He's aiting for more investigations, I'm just worried that it's hiding there, but aside from carrying on azithromycin to try and avoid exacerbations there's not much I can do. Take care and stay well .

[BionicLady in reply to wheezybronch]

My sputum with pseudo has always been clear (but off white and bubby) interesting, I think it does differ with everybody.

[Leafsweeper in reply to BionicLady]

Interesting, thanks. When first told I'd have liked a Dulux type colour charge to indicate colour changes requiring rescue treatment.. Sadly not - and resp team tend to treat according symptoms rather than culture positivity.

[BionicLady in reply to Leafsweeper]

Yes quite. The resp teams response also differs too by the sounds of it. As long as it's all being monitored, that's the main thing.

[poppyshola]

I have pseudomonas, often colonised and when going on hospital transport I have to be kept away from cancer and kidney dialysis patients as it can make them very poorly .. which is understandable .. plus as babies can become very ill from it, I won't go too near babies ... I would hate to infect anyone else..