1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Colonization of bacteria

Posted by spider109 @spider109, Jan 17 6:16am

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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blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Jan 22 3:15pm
In reply to @tconz "I have Abscessus and I was told by NJH Lab that colonization is like a chocolate..." + (show)
@tconz

I have Abscessus and I was told by NJH Lab that colonization is like a chocolate chip cookie that has many chips or a few. You definitely want a smaller amount and my NJH doctors told me since my colony count is low ranging 4-12 they don't treat unless I am sick. They said under 50 don't treat and anything above depending on your current condition (coughing, high colony count, etc) they will treat. I hope this helps with the colony count.

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Thank you for that information about the colony count. I was not told that by the lead doctor I saw during my week of testing at NJH. He did say that the count was so low that he didn't want to start antibiotics.
Hearing what you were told at NJH makes me feel better about my decision of not starting the antibiotics that Tyler suggested I start and take. My last colony count is 3. I was in NJH 15 months ago. I feel well, sleep well, appetite good, no uncontrollable coughing, no fever, chills etc. etc. and no shortness of breath.
So yes, your post about NJH's belief about the colony count, it helped me. Thanks.
Barbara

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deborahuhrich | @deborahuhrich | Jan 23 7:54am
In reply to @spider109 "I had a MAC culture done in October with the results in November and it was..." + (show)
@spider109

I had a MAC culture done in October with the results in November and it was negative. I know that doesn’t mean that I could’ve got it between now & then though.

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I had bronchoscopy done smear was taken it was negative. The biopsy came back a month later with few MAC cells. How was culture taken ? From sputum? Do pulmonologists treat by culture size differently - heavy vs few? I am currently in waiting mode for 6 months as Dr thinks it will resolve on its own. Wondering if trying to cough daily will help?

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blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Jan 23 8:45am
In reply to @deborahuhrich "I had bronchoscopy done smear was taken it was negative. The biopsy came back a month..." + (show)
@deborahuhrich

I had bronchoscopy done smear was taken it was negative. The biopsy came back a month later with few MAC cells. How was culture taken ? From sputum? Do pulmonologists treat by culture size differently - heavy vs few? I am currently in waiting mode for 6 months as Dr thinks it will resolve on its own. Wondering if trying to cough daily will help?

Jump to this post

FYI: NJH put me on Nebulizing, Vest, Aerobika and Air Way Clearance and Huff Coughing with having found out I had little to a mild showing of MAC.
If nothing else you might study to learn how to do the different things suggested on the threads here on Mayo Clinic Connect, Air Way Clearance and Postural Drainage, Exercise etc. etc. to help clear the lungs of any possible mucus, if they have said you have BE, Bronchiectasis? What do you think????
Barbara

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