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Bronchiectasis in teachers & health care workers
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
“Untreated infection and repeated infections can lead to Bronchiectasis eventually. “ @irenea8
I agree with your comments. Sorry your infections were left untreated or not properly treated. Our body types might predispose us to lung issues possibly, but a simple test - a sputum test - to provide the scientific information about which antibiotic must be used to target the bacteria, would be helpful.
Broad spectrum antibiotic treatment simply doesn’t work at times and can be harmful to patients. How many of us got multiple, short dose prescriptions? If there are other symptoms, it should warrant a sputum test or nasal swab? It could also save the insurance companies money in the long run.
Maybe doctors could just check that “sputum” box a bit more frequently for certain cases where they might be stumped by symptoms over many months / year?
Replies to "“Untreated infection and repeated infections can lead to Bronchiectasis eventually. “ @irenea8 I agree with your..."
Just going to play devil's advocate here for a minute...aside from the current issue of insurance coverage for additional tests, MOST patients want an "instant answer" - as in, I walk out with a prescription in my hand. They do not want to hear "we'll send in this sample and call you in a week."
So, most doctors do just that. Even today, I am often appalled when antibiotics are demanded and given for what are clearly viral illnesses, even without seeing the patient. Recently, we did a culture and "watch and wait" with my grandson for a week before his Mom and I were convinced he needed antibiotic.
This past year, I had 3 staph (not MRSA) infections in wounds. After the first course of antibiotics each time. I insisted on a culture - two out of 3 times, a different med was prescribed that cured the infection. Each doc pushed back, saying X was the drug of choice, broad-spectrum, just needed more time... I stood my ground and got what I needed.
But I suppose if it works "most of the time" there is little reason to change their practice.
That's why we patients need to be informed consumers of health care.
This is a great discussion
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The Dr was a GP and no he did not run any sputum tests and he did not know much about that particular antibiotic. I think he knew of my GI history and yet that particular antibiotic is one of the worse for causing C-Dif . I should have seen a good pulmo or ID from the outset. But I did not know better. I have never found GP's to be of much help with anything. Perhaps I have just been unlucky. And the ones I have seen since then, know so little about Bronchiectasis...