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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
@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?
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@sueinmn wow , that’s all interesting , and I have so many questions . First, so for a BE exacerbation , no antibiotics for 6-8wks, to wait on testing results ?
Typically , if I had increased mucus , color change, increased cough & extreme fatigue , my pulmonologist didn’t test, but started me an antibiotics , claiming I needed to treat it early . For the most part , that’s always seemed to work. I was tested in Tyler for Mac , but was negative . I understand needing to wait on Mac confirmation for treatment , but can you wait that long to start antibiotics for run of the mill viruses? Yes, I do 7 % saline nebs & postural drainage . Tomorrow my sputum will be sent to Tyler , but I’m supposed to call my local pulmonologist . If you are having an exacerbation , do you not start antibiotics ? ,