Print off swab results do I still have infection? any advice on this appreciated thanks

I had a sterp milleri infection on my cervix on the 16th November , had another swab done a few days ago and this is the recent swab result, can anyone please tell me what they mean?

[Mary-intussuception]

Edited Thursday.

Yes.

Have you contacted GP yet or was there a prescription left for you?

Have you been prescribed a course of Metronidazole antibiotic.

The Culture result says ++ alongside Mixed Anaerobes and the Sensitivity test says that it is sensitive to Metronidazole. They test the infection growth against Antibiotics. If an antibiotic has no effect on the infection they put an "R" meaning resistant. If the antibiotic treats the infection they put an "S" meaning sensitive to. They have only tested the one antibiotic on this Culture.

So if you haven't seen or spoken to your GP since this test then I would make contact asap.

Take the Metronidazole regularly and complete the course. Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods. Drink plenty of water. But make sure you rest and get some early nights to see off the infection - this is what I would do.

Haven't seen your previous C&S (culture & Sensitivity ) tests reports do don't know how severe infection was and how much improvement. Did it have more + signs on previous results?

ps

Just had another look at report - it does say that you are to speak to your GP on the phone.

It says at the bottom : probable colonisation only. And you did report a discharge.

I would make sure you get the antibiotic.

Let's know how the phone call goes. x

Sometimes an oral antibiotic will treat the infection - but not fully clear it up. When the antibiotic course is finished then the infection starts multiplying again.

And Intravenous Antibiotics are needed to fully see off the infection (happened to 2 members of my family and me ) .

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

The Doctor was surprised there was still something on the swab ,the first swab was taken 5 weeks ago and they are written on the print on exactly like this-

Gram: Pus cells ++

Gram: pos cocci ++

Culture

(A)

A) strep. Milleri ++

Penicillin S

Amoxicilli

*infected*

Can cause deep abcesses in association with anaerobes. Consider additional anaerobic cover with metronidazole.

I had past reaction to metronidazole and I can't take them for the first Infection they gave me amoxiclav tablets for 7 days but the infection was left for over 2 weeks as the Gp surgery never contacted me over it so I only started taking the co amoxiclav over 2 weeks later.

The gp did phone me about this latest swab result but I didn't understand what he was saying it was a bad phone line and there's no point calling back to clarify it's impossible to get through to my doctors and I'm sick of chasing everything up he wasn't clear on if the infection is still there. But he didn't want to give more tablets so has prescribed a cream for internal use. But I won't be able to use it I can't even think of putting anything inside as it's tender , I had abnormal cells taken off my cervix 6 weeks ago and it's still tender this is where all this started from unfortunately

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

Why don't you phone the laboratory and ask if they can test against other antibiotics.

Or ask GP for another course of Co-Amoxiclave (Augmentin) which is another broad spectrum antibiotic.

It may be best if you go to see GP and take someone with you for support (an extra pair of ears!).

Or Phone GP again and say you felt so unwell that you weren't able to take in all he said on phone (and the line was bad so you missed part of what he said anyway).

Tell him/her about problem using cream.

I would take antibiotics until cleared up or contact hospital via patient concerns and say you want this infection treated till it's gone.

What was the problem with the Metronidazole?

Was the discharge smelly? You can Google search 'mixed Anaerobes '.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I got severe symptoms after taking the tablets vomiting and shaking and I couldn't feel my legs or hands they went numb x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

Does the GP and hospital Consultant know this?

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Yeah I had to go hospital on the 22nd November after taking it after the reaction , nothing was done I was sent home and waited for effects to wear off x

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

From this print off can you tell if an infection is still present? ... yes I guess I'll have to try and see one of the doctors I'm just loosing patience though now with it I'm kind of loosing faith in the doctors because they left me with an infection originally over two weeks x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

Chlo

I advised you 9 days ago to keep following up with GP or Outpatients till this infection is cleared up.

Yes - you still have infection .

I explained this in first reply .

There are 2 plus signs alongside Mixed Anaerobes. The lab tested the infection against Metronidazole and found that the infection is sensitive to this. It seems that they didn’t test any other antibiotics against it on this occasion. It would have been helpful if the doctor had commented that you cannot take Metronidazole.

There are other bread spectrum antibiotics.

After each course of Antibiotics I would wait a few days then take in another sample. Get a couple of spare swab sets from GP.

These infections sometimes take time to clear up.

Isn't there any family member who can be with you when you phone hospital concerns or patient services. Or try the hospital Chaplain or Outpatients Sister/ Charge nurse - see if they will help. Or email hospital.

You got the infection there after they discharged you bleeding following surgery.

Take it up with the hospital.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Oh did you. Yes i remember now you saying so and from that I was trying to follow up from that advice you gave me. I couldn't get them to really listen to me the GP surgery haha. they made me feel I was mathering and when I asked for print outs they didn't seem to like it...I had to press to get a re swab! And then had to wait to get into the nurse to do it for me I only got the results back today .

True yes I'm going to get my husband to help me with it and maybe take it up with the hospital. I'll give them a call

I'm just fed up with it all x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

I understand you are fed up with it all. And good for you for insisting on being followed up as you are still un well.

Sadly, we have to keep on at doctors.

We also have to get plenty of rest too - it's not very long ago that you had surgery followed by haemorrhage. That would be enough to cope with - but on top of all that you acquired this infection/ these infections whilst in A&E having the bleeding treated.

Are you still checking your temperature daily?

Hope you are able to get some rest.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

It was slightly high the other day my temperature but came down, I just taken it now with a under arm thermometer and it's 37

I'm trying to test

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

Chlo

I did not get notification of this reply and have just seen it early Thursday morning.

When taking temperature under arm we add one - so your temperature is 38.

You have a high temperature - another sign of infection.

Report this to the doctor & hospital.

And keep taking your temperature.

Edit

ps

I have just sent pm - hope you see it before you leave this morning x

🌹🌹🌹

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I know it's been up and down the temp...I will I'll tell them this afternoon when I go. Just seen your message I PM back xx

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

If it reaches 40, as far as I understand you are supposed to go to A&E.

All the best x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

I just replied to pm but forgot a couple of things. I'm sure you'll be taking your swabs C&S reports with you. They should have them on computer but if you can, photocopy spares to give to the nurse you spoke to.

I would also take a small note book & pen .

x

[MaisieGray in reply to Mary-intussuception]

@ Mary-intussception I've read this by Consultant Microbiologist David Garner:

"One of the most common mistakes I come across in my daily practice is doctors giving antibiotics to treat bacteria that are not actually causing infection. It might surprise you that there are in fact three main reasons why a microorganism might be present in a microbiology sample, only one of which is infection; the others are contamination and colonisation. In order to understand how colonisation differs from infection and contamination it is first necessary to know what infection and contamination are............ Colonisation describes when bacteria grow on body sites exposed to the environment, without causing any infection. This is a normal process. These bacteria may form part of the normal flora of the individual; although colonisation is not necessarily normal flora. Occasionally, bacteria which are not normally regarded as part of the normal flora can also colonise body areas e.g. Pseudomonas spp. in a wound is not normal flora of the skin or a wound but it is not actually causing tissue damage or infection; it is just growing in the warm wet conditions of the wound."

[Hidden in reply to MaisieGray]

It just seems strange that I had a bad infection and now this swab is saying this. It's showing these anaerobes ... what is the enterococcus that is on my result print out? x

Sorry all the medical things I don't quite understand haha. It's just because I feel so ill I'm just wondering if I still have the infection or presence of a infection x

Appreciate the advice thank you

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

If I were you I would see your GP, but take a friend or relative with you.

You say you spoke to GP but didn't understand so you need to phone GP back and explain.

You can Google search "mixed Anaerobes ".

You really need to take this up with the hospital. The way in which you have been treated since your surgery and being discharged bleeding heavily.

" . . . I feel so ill . . ."

If this happened to me I would be contacting the doctor and hospital departments that treated me both surgery and in the emergency when infection acquired.

You are ill - so need qualified medical care.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

True yes. I think it's because I feel let down by just some of the care I have been given (afterwards what happened) to be honest ...and I post here for any advice or what others think or advice of results as I'm not very good with medical jargon . I did try to call back GP but the Dr wasn't available to speak x

Appreciate your time answering

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Hidden]

It's wrong that we should have to look up medical jargon to equip us to know what help to ask for.

Your GP has those results.

Make sure you and your Husband remind the GP of what happened when you took Metronidazole last time. Make sure GP understands how unwell you are feeling.

Hope you can get some rest. It's a lot to recover from, isn't it . These things take time.

Here, we can ask for a call back. But if we are ill we can get a same day appoinment. It may be better if you and your husband speak to GP in person, in a same day appointment.

xx

[MaisieGray in reply to Hidden]

A useful medscape article on Enterococci says that they are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals which have been long recognized as important human pathogens and are becoming increasingly so; and that the genus Enterococcus includes more than 17 species, although only a few cause clinical infections in humans. So you might want to read more here, but I think "a" Dr, if not "your" Dr, needs to be the first port of call to determine best next steps: emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

Regarding using your cream, I had recurring genital shingles, and the degree of pain and sensitivity was quite disproportionate to what I might have expected it to be, although I don't know why I was surprised because years before, I was in agony when I developed shingles on my trunk post-partum and my then husband had to actually sit on me in order to put the cream on ..... but my point is that I gritted my teeth and applied the cream, and was eventually thankful that I had. Might you possibly be able to do the same, for the benefit that will hopefully ensue?

[Hidden in reply to MaisieGray]

Maybe so but I didn't know wether this cream would help because when I looked it up it's treated for vaginosis , my dr seemed unsure too lol so it's making me reluctant to use it x

[MaisieGray in reply to Hidden]

Aah, that's interesting because your report states Clue Cells not seen. Clue cells are epithelial cells of the vagina that get their distinctive stippled appearance by being covered with bacteria; and their presence is a medical sign of bacterial vaginosis. However, it's not my field, so I don't know if clue cells not seen implies there are none and therefore no indication of vaginosis; or that they are present but for some reason not visible or identifiable; or whether your previous procedure would have impacted on that.

[MaisieGray in reply to MaisieGray]

However, remember that the cream's licensed purpose may be for vaginosis, but many meds are also used off label for other purposes too.