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How do you handle a flare up or exacerbation?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Mar 11 12:00pm | Replies (24)Comment receiving replies
@sueinmn , I know this is an old post , but I just read it and found helpful. Thank you !
I’m sending in my first mucus sample to UT Tyler . It’s Sunday , so it will go out tomorrow. Can you tell me how this works…do they wait on culture confirmation before prescribing antibiotics ? How long does this usually take ? My local / Dallas pulmonologist never did sputum collections . I went to Tyler last Dec, and they will be coordinating care with my Dallas doctor . Historically , based on symptoms , my pulmonologist would decide if I needed antibiotics and possibly steroids. I have mild BE. I’m just curious how the process will work now, with the addition of the testing . Do you wait for the culture before moving forward with antibiotics ? I know I’ll find out, but just curious on this Sunday morning how things will play out .
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@cholash Usually, unless you have severe symptoms, antibioyics are not prescribed until the sputum culture comes back. the last step is sensitivity testing to determine which ones to prescribe. this takes 6-8 weeks, but mycobacteria are very slow-growing, so waiting is not risky.
Sometimes, even i f the culture is positive, if the infection load is low and you have few symptoms, they may not start antibiotics right away. There is a protocol called watch and wait, where you do daily airway clearance and submit frequent sputum specimens for culture to see if you can reduce or eliminate the infection without drugs.
are you doing airway clearance?