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Colonization of bacteria
I had a sputum culture on 1/6/25. The results showed “Heavy growth- Kleb ssp Pnemonia. I thought it was some type of pneumonia. I went to Mayo Jax for my annual testing, (I have Pulmonary Fibrosis & Bronchiectasis) and the transplant pulmonologist said it is not pneumonia!!! It is colonization of bacteria in your lungs. He did not elaborate on it at all.. prior going to Mayo, my home pulmonologist put me on Amoxicillin/Clavunate, 2x daily for 7 days. I noticed that it was harder to cough up my mucus prior to the culture, and my mucus had been a cloudy light brown color, where as previously had been clear and white. Has anyone had any experience with colonization of bacteria/ Kleb sat Pnemonia. I have no other symptoms besides harder to cough up mucus and discoloration of mucus. Thank-you.
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@spider109 Klebsiella ssp pneumoniae is an opportunist!
It invades our weakened lungs if given the chance, and can cause pneumonia. The discolored mucus is a typical sign of this infection.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/klebsiella-pneumoniae-infection
Because it has been around for some time, Kliebsella can also be antibiotic-resistant, so if it returns, your doc may need to have the specimen sensitivity tested to see which drugs will work. If you use oxygen or a CPAP/BiPAP, you may want to take a close look at your disinfecting processes for the equipment, hoses, masks, etc.
Are you feeling better with the antibiotics?
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1 ReactionWell, at first the mucus really started coming up so easily and a lot, and my lungs felt clearer than they had in a year or two. Then just yesterday it seemed to go right back to starting to get harder to cough up again. Still have two days on Amoxicillin/Clavunate, then will start Azrithromycin 250mg daily as ordered by Mayo Pulmonologist. How does that sound?
No but I keep up with research and there is a human trial starting for a drug that may actually kill klebsiella! Keep checking into that. Of course, it will take a long time but it's good to know there is something in the pipeline!
I thought that that that’s why why they give you the antibiotics was to kill the Bacteria and infection.
There is no known medication that permanently kills pseudomonas.
Sue, I thank you for your response. The 1st day or 2 on the antibiotic amoxicillin/clavunate, the mucus expelled so easily and a lot during my airway clearance, that my lungs felt better than they have in two years. Then for the next 4-5 days taking the same antibiotic as prescribed. right back to where I was. Is This particular strain (Keisabella pneumonia) considered pseudomonas? I know I might be on antibiotics for some time, and no other symptoms, other than discolored mucus, and most of the time harder to cough up. You are a wealth of knowledge for this forum, so any and all information you can give me would be appreciated. I do have my local Pulmonologist monitoring this infection, but as has been said many times we all learn so much from each other on this forum that I think is priceless. Thank-you and have a great day.
I am currently experiencing something similar. My mucus has become difficult to cough up and I am only producing half of my usual amount. As a result I am having a great deal of breathing difficulty. I do not know why it has become difficult and the quantity has reduced so much. If you get any information as to why that might happen let me know spider! None of my usual remedies make any difference like mucinex etc etc.
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2 ReactionsWhat about NAC? That makes a difference for some. Have you tried 2 vials of saline in one session? How about changing up what you do for deep breathing, like active cycle of breathing or using a tube to exhale through to keep the glottis open. Hope some of these suggestions are useful.
My Dr. thinks that MAC might be colonized in my lungs. The first time I had heard of smears was last Wednesday. I asked my Dr. why we were not treating MAC. He said that I had a positive culture but a negative smear. I thought that they just did cultures on the sputum samples. The negative smear led him to believe that it might be a colonization. Before he does any treatment he is waiting on other sputum samples. I looked it up and smears are a quick result whereas a culture takes weeks to grow out. So I am still confused. I guess just have to send in more samples and wait on the results.
Sue- Thanks for the Webmd on Kebsiella.
Good to understand the possible ways in which one can contract it.
Hope you are doing well.
Barbara