Another resistant UTI - Pseudomonas & Enterococcus

[retto76]

Recent background: A month or two ago I had a UTI that my PCP identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia that was resistant to all oral antibiotics except for penicillins (which I'm allergic to). I was referred to an infectious disease doc. Due to insurance coverage, I ended up having to drive about 40 miles each way to see this doc instead of being able to see the one in town. Upon seeing her, she repeated my C&S and it showed no Stenotrophomonas - but it showed yeast. I hadn't taken any antibiotics, only had a cath change (suprapubic) and been pushing the fluids like mad. She gave me an rx for diflucan for the yeast and it seemed to do the trick for a short time.

Now: I've had "the stink" coming on for a few weeks now. I don't have a fever, extra spasms, or any other UTI symptoms (other than cloudy & chunky pee), but the smell becomes so god-awful strong that even my kids are disgusted when they come near me. Since I am returning to work full-time in a couple of weeks, this is unacceptable! I started pushing the fluids and had a regularly-scheduled cath change. This seemed to temporarily take care of the issue, but within a week I could start smelling that it was coming back (and the urine was super cloudy again). As last weekend approached, the smell got worse. On Sunday, I submitted a sample for a C&S, and on Monday I had my tube changed (only 2 weeks after the previous change instead of my normal 3 weeks).

On Tuesday, my PCP called me to let me know that I had two bugs identified in there - Enterococcus & Pseudomonas. The enterococcus is susceptible to Macrobid, so they had me start that. They had to wait another day for the Pseudomonas sensitivity to finish. I got a call last night that the Pseudomonas is resistant to quite a few things, but is susceptible to Cipro. So they want me on the two antibiotics at the same time. Does this sound okay? I haven't had Cipro in ages, because all of my UTIs in the past couple of years have been resistant to it.

[SCI-Nurse]

Sounds like a good plan.

(KLD)

[retto76]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

Sounds like a good plan.

(KLD)

So it is okay to be on two antibiotics at the same time?

I haven't been doing probiotics in the past (just eating yogurt), but I really would like to with this double antibiotic stuff going on. Does Target or Walmart carry any brands worth buying, or is it better to order something online?

[gjnl]

There has been a fair amount of discussion about probiotic brands on Care Cure. A search for "probiotic brands" turned up a few thread to review.
http://www.google.com/search?q=probi...ci.rutgers.edu

All the best,
GJ

[thehipcrip]

retto, I can relate. I'm fighting e. coli that's resistant to all oral meds except macrodantin, which is what caused my lung fibrosis. I'm using VVF instillations and D-Mannose in the hope of avoiding IV drugs.

As far as probiotics, I finally decided on Nature's Way Primadophilis Fortify.

[SCI-Nurse]

How are you collecting these specimens?

(KLD)

[retto76]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

How are you collecting these specimens?

(KLD)

I clamp off my suprapubic for a few minutes to let the urine build up, and disconnect it from my leg bag. I clean the opening of the SP tube with an alcohol wipe. Then I get the urine cup ready, unclamp the SP tube, and collect the sample. I use another alcohol wipe to clean off the top of the leg bag tube before reconnecting it to my SP tube.

The only other way I was shown how to get a sample was by clamping the tube and having a nurse puncture the base of the SP tube (below where the balloon line comes in, and afterward it recloses on its own just fine) with something like a butterfly needle. Then she sucks out urine and puts it in the cup.

I don't do this second way, because I do the collecting myself now.

Do you have other suggestions?

[SCI-Nurse]

Just wanted to be sure you were not taking the urine from the drainage bag...

(KLD)

[Sue Pendleton]

I have been treated with exactly those 2 antibiotics just recently and and again with both for just 2 days before my cystoscopy and biopsy. I've had no problems with either before and each was indicated for the 2 bugs as susceptible for me.
I have IBS and take Align daily. It seems to work fairly well on antibiotic problems too. It comes in, marked by day of the week, bubble wraps.

[retto76]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

Just wanted to be sure you were not taking the urine from the drainage bag...

(KLD)

I was told to never collect the urine that way, so I don't. But out of curiosity, wouldn't it still show the same bugs that are growing inside our bladders? What else could get inside the drainage bag? Though I guess the bacterial counts would be off since the drainage bag environment is different.