Osteomyelitis (Jaw) C-Diff

[Meshell]

Having a biopsy for (highly) suspected osteomyelitis in my Jaw post-wisdom tooth extraction. The same extraction that gave me cdiff compliments of clindamiacin. I have been off vanco, free of cdiff symptoms for two weeks, now this.

1: Called my GI due to the one round of iv amoxicillin they are giving me prior to biopsy/debridement surgery tomorrow. He said to go back on vanco 250 every 6 hours until Monday and then touch base. Does this sound right?

2: If I infact have osteomyelitis this will mean a pic line and 6 wks of iv antibiotics. Oral surgeon will connect me with an ID specialist for this treatment. GI doc said I will prolly stay on vanco the entire time. Any thoughts on this?

3: With a pic Iine I can't take Florastor. Which is a major bummer. Any other suggestions for healthy alternatives?

Any suggestions in general. I am really shook and scared and can't believe this is happening to me at 40 wiith 2 kids under 4 and a FT job that I depend on for my insurance.

[Meshell]

I should mention my regimin is:

VSl 3 1/2 tab daily
Kefir 8oz
Enteragram 1 packet Daily
Florastor x4

[AllisS]

Hi Meshell, although we can't give medical advice on this site, the consult with the ID doctor sounds like an excellent idea. Like you, I contracted C. diff after taking clindamycin, as have so many on this site. It's the top-offending drug in relation to C. diff. I hope you'll fill out an Adverse Event form on the FDA website to document your experience with this drug; you can access the site via a link at the bottom of my post.

It sounds like you may be overdoing it a bit with the probiotic regimen; probiotics can cause GI symptoms. I also take a capsule of VSL daily -- do you mean you take 3 VSL, 1/2 tab/day? Or VSL3, 1/2 tab daily? Prior to hip replacement a year and a half ago, it was recommended that I take Florastor in addition to the VSL, initially once/day and then building up for twice/day, for a total of about six weeks. Florastor is evidently the only probiotic that has been shown in studies to reduce C. diff recurrence in hospitalized patients. I'd run the regimen you mention by the ID doctor to see what he thinks.

Allison

[Meshell]

Unfortunately when the OS went in for the dibreidment and biopsy he new it was OM. I’m he diagnosis is official. I have acute osteomyelitis from my wisdom tooth extraction. I’m trying to hold it all together but between this new diagnosis and still getting over CDIFF post 13days I’m rough.

I saw some posts on here that day the prophylactic use of Vanco prior to the antibiotics they gave me today can’t hurt.

However, the 6 wks IV antibiotics has my head reeling. Anyone with a similar experience that has helpful suggestions?

Will they gave me Vanco the entire 6 wks?

[NanciT]

I am SO SORRY you are going through this...I can't imagine. I was on Kelfex for 10 days post CDIFF( Which I had for 1 year). I did take Vanco the first time along with it. The second time which was a few months out, I did not take Vanco. I was having UTI's and they believed the Vanco was part of the bladder irritation so in my case I was back on the Keflex for another 10 days without Vanco. I continued with VSL#3 during this time and also still take it.
I was fortunate not to relapse
My doctors had a conference at the time to discuss this, I would highly recommend getting your GI together with your physician who will treat you for the infection. They need a team approach to help you get through this.
Keep us updated, I hope all is well soon
NanciT

[AllisS]

I, too, am sorry about this bad news. Has the infectious-disease doctor weighed in yet? I think that prophylactic Vanco may be an area of controversy. I'd looked into this myself a few years ago prior to hip-replacement surgery, as I was concerned about the IV antibiotic that would be given during and after the operation and the risk of C. diff recurrence it might pose. The ID doctor said it wasn't a good idea to use Vanco in this way. However, I don't recall what the reasoning was, and it may or may not apply to your situation. That's why the ID doctor's input would be valuable.

Wishing you all the best with the treatment and recovery. Keep posting; let us know how you're doing.

[OCmama]

Oh no!!! I am praying for you!! Do they do the aiV antibiotics at home?

[Bobbie]

Meshell,
Welcome to the site.

In 1993. I had my first bout of c diff. Testing was not as sophisticated then and I continued to test negative for c diff - even at Mayo. I knew I had c diff, however, because my younger son had c diff many years earlier. He was the youngest (4) and one of the first people put on oral Vanco. He had 4 relapses and hospitalations before he was "well" although it affected his health -- GI problems, respiratory infections, etc, for years.

[Meshell]

I will be given a picc line tomorrow (no more florastor,ugh) and this will enable me to administer my own IV antibiotics at home. I’m on enteragram so I’m hoping this will help with the loss of the florastor.

Thanks to all for your thoughtful responses.

[roy]

I hope they cultured to identify the infection, most would be staph and IV vanco might be the choice for that.
Do you know what antibiotic they intend prescribing?

[Bobbie]

Apologies for not finishing post yesterday -- had a doc appointment.

To follow the same thread, I ground my teeth from stress (had never done so before) and broke two lower teeth. My face swelled from infection and I was in pain. Went to an emdodontist and then an oral,surgeon who pulled the wrong tooth. Called in an infectious disease doc who did an MRI which showed osteomyelitis of the jaw bone.

The infections disease doc had a port put in my chest and I was on IVs for 6 to 8 weeks. They used IV Vanco plus I was on oral Vanco for the c diff, I learned to do the treatments myself. Hooked myself up to the IV Vanco two hours every morning and evening and then flushed the line. Went to work the whole time which saved what was left of my sanity.

Later I had to have my mouth repaired -'bridges and even braces.(3'reeth pulled). It was an agony but my teeth turned out fine. I still wear two appliances in my mouth at night as still grind my teeth. Thank you again, c diff.

The two possible side effects of IV Vanco are possible hearing loss and kidney damage. I had neither. They checked my blood twice a week. I had three surgeries last year and insisted on IV Vanco during the surgery. The surgeons were fine with it.

Hope this helps you. Sorry I did not respond before. I am also PMing you and you can contact me with questions.

Best of luck and keep us posted. It is a total pain in the a.., but you will get over this. Roy is right. Infection probably staph and that is what IV Vanco is used to treat.