azithromycin

[feelinghopeful]

My boyfriend, who was my donor for a transplant, has asthma. He just went to the doctor for a chest issue that's not clearing up but I'm not sure it's an infection - it's the lingering effects of a bad cold that even I couldn't get rid of for three weeks but he has a predisposition for lung problems. She gave him inhailers, methylprednisone and Azithromycin (the last of the three he hasn't started yet at my urging). He's been with me the entire 1.5 years I had C-Diff and I've stopped him from taking antibiotics before for other issues because I KNOW he has spores. He cleaned the bathrooms when I was petrified of the toilet... well, suffice it to say it would truly be a miracle if he were sporeless. Somehow he's managed to recover from everything without antibiotics so I'd prefer he wait and see if the other drugs work. My only concern is, the doctor said he has a sound in his lungs that could be problematic if it gets much worse. Can't find Azithromycin on the list. Anyone get C-Diff from Azithromycin? Always something.

Can you get a sputum test to narrow down the bacteria in such cases? Will doctor's do that upon request?

[klt03301]

I believe this drug is commonly called a "Z Pack" or Zithromax. I know many people have taken it, but I don't know where it falls in the list of ABs known to cause C Diff. In my opinion, I think any ABs these days could cause it, though some are more notorious. Just thought I would post it under the names it's generally called in case someone recognizes it and can give you more info. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

I hope your boyfriend gets through this w/o having to take ABs, but unfortunately, it sounds as if his lungs aren't doing so well :-( My grandson just started Amoxicillin for an ear infection, and for the first time in his life, he's taking Culturelle. He's had MRSA 4x, and bacterial meningitis. He's only 4. He hasn't gotten C Diff, BUT...I talked my daughter into starting him on it while he's on ABs and since it's a 30 day supply, he will take it all. The ABs are a 10 day supply. She spaces them well apart.

IF your boyfriend must take ABs, you already know more than most of us about probiotics, I think (just from reading your posts)? You seem very well educated about C Diff! I hope he improves without them. Please let us know how things go.

Best wishes...Karen

[Bobbie]

feelinghopeful,
Your boyfriend cleaned the bathroom when you had C. diff.? I don't suppose you'd trade men with me, would you?

I am at high risk for C. diff. Had it for 4 yrs. (l993-l997) & then got it again 2 yrs. (l999) later the next time I was hospitalized & had to take an antibiotic for pneumonia. Both times, Dr. Allen's broth (see Doctors - Dr. Mark Allen, KC) "cured" me. I feel (& some of my many docs. agree) that C. diff. damaged my immune system. I also have asthma & allergies. (Have always had allergies & in KC -- lots of allergists here.

Two years ago I got pneumonia for the 5th time. My pulmo.'s partner prescribed Avelox. I refused to take it because I knew it was related to Levaquin -- the antibiotic that caused my 2nd bout with C. diff. I asked for a Z-pak instead -- not really knowing what I was doing. I tolerated a Z-pak without developing C. diff. No one was more surprised than I was.

My son also had C. diff. many years ago. He also tolerated a Z-pak. However, my niece (not blood related) developed C. diff. from a Z-pak. Any antibiotic (even sometimes Flagyl) can contribute to C. diff. given the right circumstances.

Yes sometimes sputum can be cultured to see if the infection is bacterial, but this is difficult to do. I did it in l999 (got a sample in a sterile container), but the lab in the hospital lost it. Small surprise there!

See FAQ-Antibiotics Most Likely to Cause C.Diff./Antibio. Resistance
Zithromax is listed as "middle of the road."

[anlockwood]

I also believe it is a Z-Pack. I know it still has its risks but per my internal med doc it is one of the safer because it is in your gut for a much shorter period of time then the other antibiotics that are out there. It is only in the gut for the 5 days you take it and then in your system for total of 10. I would say if they hear something in his lungs to take it. Pneumonia is very deadly and scary and if it gets to that point will require much stronger antibiotics. Just my thoughts though. I hope everything goes ok and will keep you both in my prayers.
Amanda

[feelinghopeful]

Z isn't a common letter - should have known. Thanks for the heads up, Karen. I'm still hoping he gets better without it. Might be wishful thinking but it seems he's not coughing as much.

Yes Bobbie, if you can believe this, he cleaned just about everything when I was at my lowest and looking and acting like a scarecrow. But I would particularly break out in a sweat just thinking about cleaning the toilets. I once, early on, really deep cleaned everything (toilet brush and all, with bleach, which I've since ditched - I was still naive and hopeful that I didn't really have to ditch everything that could be thrown out). I had a relapse shortly thereafter so went into a terrible panick at the thought of it after that, just like I do regarding wine now, too, having relapsed after drinking wine.

If it comes to antibiotics it sounds like I'm not going to get much safer than the Z anyway so I'll drop the sputum idea and bit the bullet.

Thanks for the good advice Amanda - he's far less fearful of antibiotics than I am, thinking, as I did before C-Diff, that it won't happen to him.

On another note... Karen, I have heard of sooooo many people getting MRSA! It's really getting scary out there. How did your grandson get it 4x?! I just called a friend about a friend who's in the hospital and found out he contracted MRSA during one of his foot surgeries. Another friend went into the hospital for a blood infection and got MRSA pneumonia. Honestly, you would have to kill me to get me to a hospital.

Thanks for the generous replies. I'll let you know what he does. May we all be our healthiest again soon.

[trob25]

I hope he doesn't need the ab's feelinghopeful, but if he absolutely has to, I'd say to load him up with probiotics. You probably know more about them then any of us, but I have my game play for any future antibiotics. I'm going to take 2-4 Florastor per day (because they survive abs) while on them and for two weeks after, coupled with Culturelle and Primadophilus Reuteri spaced 3 or more hours after I've taken the antibiotics. In addition to Kefir and Dan Active.

[feelinghopeful]

Funny how reluctant some people are to do anything time consuming even if it would work. I asked him to put his head over some steaming salt water in the same fashion but got no reply. I'll look for those crystals. Wonder if it's like our vapor rub. I really think he's going to get over this without antibiotics, especially if I have anything to do with it. Thanks, Roy.

Hi Trob and thanks for the input. I don't even want to go there! I will try everything to keep him from taking Abs but if he has to, I'll do the whole probiotics thing. He HATES cultured milk products, like yogurt and kefir but even he proselytizes about kefir now. He was sick to his stomach a number of times and I made him drink it. He is now a believer. He said, "that stuff really works!" Told his mother who's a nurse. HE tells ME to drink it when my belly hurts- ha! So, how have you been feeling, btw?

[feelinghopeful]

P.S.

That's good about no antibiotics for a cold. It's about time that we stop irresponsibly disensing drugs. Ruins it for when we really need them. There's been a series of articles in the NY Times about doctors. Good one today - about how arrogant doctors are responsible for many mistakes made in health care. Here's the link but you have to have a subscription:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/healt ... emc=hltha1

[klt03301]

feelinghopeful: my grandson got MRSA from his father, who had what he thought was a spider bite on his leg when he came to visit (he doesn't live w/his dad). Each time we'd get it cleared up; then his dad would visit again (having gotten it again himself). We finally took him to Duke Children's Hospital (he had to have surgery on his thigh for MRSA infection and very high fever) and they ran every immune deficiency test they knew of, which came back fine. His father also had to be hospitalized. The infectious disease doctor wrote a letter, if you can believe this, to his father, instructing him how to clean his home, and himself, before visiting my grandson. We went through several intense cleaning procedures in our homes and ourselves (a special wash and nasal antibiotic b/c MRSA is carried in many people's nasal passages w/o their knowledge). Later, each of us in close contact w/him got our noses swabbed to see if we carried it...we didn't. My daughter got it too, and had surgery. In the hospital, one of the "boils" burst open and got all over me and my clothes. I didn't care, but I never got it. I was lucky. It was Hell watching him go through this. To anyone who reads this: MRSA can look like a "spider bite" and many doctors make the mistake of thinking that's what it is when actually it may be MRSA. The first doc my daughter went to told her it was a spider bite, the 2nd, an infectious disease specialist, performed the surgery, cultured it and it was MRSA.

[feelinghopeful]

I looked up "spider bite MRSA" on google images to see what it looks like. I don't think even I'd think that was a spider bite let alone a doctor. I have two students who work in the medical field so I brought this up tonight... this MRSA is everywhere. I'm afraid to get tested but I have been in contact with a number of people who've had it but didn't tell me.

I'm sorry you've been through that - sorry the kid had to go through that. It truly sounds like a nightmare. And thank you for the education. One of my students brought up how his brother is always sick and that they've taken him to 30 doctors, each of which throws some major medication at him just hoping something will do something. I had a heart attack. You should hear what these people have given this poor 5 year old to date. And for no specific reason. Antibiotics with no indication of infection, well, I could write a paragraph about this. No wonder we have MRSA.

P.S. So far, the boyfriend has not taken the abs! He's sounding better, too, I write hesitantly.

[Bobbie]

kit,
Your ex-son-in-law (I assume he's an ex) sounds like a real germ --pun intended.

Sorry you had to go through this. Must have been terrible watching your grandson suffer.

I have a friend whose elder daughter & her eldest son are MRSA "carriers." Neither of the grandparents have gotten the infection, but my friend has many medical problems. I'm not sure she realizes how serious this is. She is a wonderful mother & grandmother & has her daughter & grandchildren over constantly. When I visited my friend (& her daughter & grandson were present) I was on "pins & needles" after she told me they were carriers.

I hope no one with C. diff. develops MRSA because of the need for surgery & antibiotics. Another good reason for good hygiene & insisting that health care workers & any one with an infection (or trying to prevent one) washes their hands with soap & water & well as the alcohol.

[feelinghopeful]

KIt, have you seen this? Thought it might be good for your grandson.

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=151394

I did read somewhere that MRSA can become resistant to tea tree oil. I'd bought some bars of tea tree oil soap but am afraid to use it. Thought it would be a good way to keep the skin clean but after reading about MRSA's ability to become immune I didn't think using such a diluted dose daily was a good idea. Pure Tea tree oil is amazing stuff, though. I've used it for other things. I'm not sure if the honey in the kit is as or more effective since it must have some of the disinfectant properties of the oil from the plant. Anyway, fyi.

[klt03301]

Bobbie...yes, Noah's (my grandson) father no longer even sees him, which is a blessing. His father never even took the time to get his nasal passages tested. We don't even know where he is, nor do we care. My daughter says that if he were on fire she wouldn't even piss on him to put the fire out.

We were told by his pediatrician that you can get MRSA anywhere, even off of a grocery cart, just like C Diff; however, we know how he got it. I can imagine how frightening it is to be around people who are known carriers. As feelinghopeful wrote, it is everywhere. All we can do is wash our hands and keep ourselves clean.

feelinghopeful: I can't thank you enough for that link. I bookmarked it. Noah's MRSA really did start out looking like a small bug bite. Within 24 hours he was extremely ill. He's 4 1/2 now. The MRSA infections occurred when he was 2 (he had 3 of them) and another at age 3 (very mild). I'm going to get more info about those kits. Someone else on here has written about the antibacterial properties of Manuka Honey. I pray he remains MRSA free for the rest of his life, but every time he gets a mosquito bite my daughter worries. She can now tell the difference, though.

My thanks to both of you for your responses!

Karen

[klt03301]

feelinghopeful...I'm so sorry, I didn't even ask how your boyfriend is doing? How are his lungs? Did he have to go on antibiotics? I hope everything is OK with him!

[TheVike]

Ther are entire threaads on Manuka Honey I think it has helped ME!!! My son's acne etc.... I swallow and let melt a little in my mouth tongue when my throat begins to get sore!!! Wahla it is gone I have not been SICK since CDiff 18 months out!?!??!?!