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Do odds of culture conversion change with time elapsed?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jun 26 8:54am | Replies (4)Comment receiving replies
@alizdas Welcome to Mayo Connect, and to our MAC group.
I think you will get an array of responses to this question, but typically conversion takes at least 6-9 months for most people. For some of us, the colonies simply dwindle, and our lung images begin to show healing. In my case, I had no conversion to negative when we ended the antibiotics, but my lungs were clear. That was over 4 years ago, before Arikayce was routinely available. I often wonder if my results would have been different if that was added.
But with airway clearance and other precautions, I have remained healthy without a recurrence of symptoms for 4 1/2 years.
Can you tell us where you were treated, and what type of NTM you have, that they started with Arikayce and 2 antibiotics?
Replies to "@alizdas Welcome to Mayo Connect, and to our MAC group. I think you will get an..."
Sue I wonder what you mean my lungs were clear. I am still on antibiotics, converted to negative 10 months ago but my lungs are not clear . There are nodules, mucus plugs and the doctor says except of one area “stable”. Should the lungs scan show improvement because mine do not.
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Thank you for your helpful response regarding conversion time. In response to your queries, I feel ok with putting out info about myself but not info that might identify others. Suffice it to say, when diagnosed, disease progression was already extensive in both lungs. I am happy to say that so far I am tolerating the meds fairly well. Again, thanks for the info on conversion time.