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Bronchiectasis and lung infection
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Sep 10, 2024 | Replies (56)Comment receiving replies
Currently on steroids and antibiotics for several weeks and it is too late to do a sputum test. He says it wouldn't do any good. He also says it is asthma and not my bronchiectasis so sputum wouldn't help. He is the top pulmo around here. He says he can tell by the sounds in my chest. I will ask again when I see him a month after this clears up.
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Yikes! Here is the current guideline for identifying and treating NTM:
https://ntminfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NTMguidelines2020.pdf
Here is the deal - with bronchiectasis, your lungs are damaged so that it is hard to cure infections - my pulmonologist cannot tell with a stethoscope whether I have NTM/MAC, pseudomonas, aspergillus or nocardia infections. It takes: a sputum test, a sputum culture, a CT scan and a current health history (looking for fever, fatigue, cough, weight loss, night sweats...)
Sputum tests and cultures can be done while you are on antibiotics - that is how we tell whether or not the meds are working. If not working, sensitivity testing of the cultured germs is needed to see whether the meds need to be changed or increased. When on the NTM antibiotics, it is typical to submit a new specimen every 2-3 months, and if you don't clear in 6-9 months, a 4th med is often added or the dosage is increased.
All of this tells me you need a doctor more experienced treating Bronchiectasis and NTM - if you can let us know generally where you are, I am sure someone will have a suggestion. You can also self-refer to National Jewish Health in Denver, Mayo in Minnesota or Florida, UT Tyler in Texas, Cleveland Clinic and a number of other centers that specialize.