1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Nursing Occupational theory

Posted by cmcclure @cmcclure, Mar 15, 2018

hello i am looking for information to support my theory that working at prison with hospice patients HIV, TB ect these patients carried this bacteria and by taking care of them treating vent wing, bathing, ect I contracted MAC infection , I am have no immune compromising illnesses except maybe the increased stress that came with the work itself… It dam near killed me and I want some one to answer or at least entertain the thought the occupational work attributed to the its cause. Thank you to all and anyone that can point me in the right direction it will be sincerely appreciated.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 14, 2018
In reply to @ling123 "@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious...." + (show)
@ling123

@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious. I'm not a doctor and nor am I a medical researcher. So I have no other way to prove or disprove your theory. But one thought came to mind: If you think working around patients with such disease could have given it to you, what about the people who are living in the same house with us? There is a whole lot more opportunities for them to get it from us considering that we share not only just the same air space, we share bathrooms, beds, eating utensils, and more for year and years. Is there even one person in this group whose spouse or children might have gotten MAC from her?

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@macjane Hi Jane. What questions do you have? Maybe I can help.

REPLY
Jen_b | @jenblalock | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @heathert "@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC..." + (show)
@heathert

@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC is contagious but no definite answer yet that I know of. Ask your Dr who you should report this too, it would be good to know if this is possible, I do not see how it is not possible, most other infections are contageous. Stress does affect the immune system so could have put you more at risk around these patients but we all need to know if it is contagious.

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@irene5 Great response. When I first learned I had MAC I was angry and looking for something to blame. I couldn't accept that I may never know what caused it. I blamed my workplace and the moldy building I worked in. After a time, I did come to the point of acceptance that it really did not matter what caused it. And this statement: " but for now the research doesn’t support that". The research. Always read the research. That's the only reliable source of information.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @ling123 "@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious...." + (show)
@ling123

@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious. I'm not a doctor and nor am I a medical researcher. So I have no other way to prove or disprove your theory. But one thought came to mind: If you think working around patients with such disease could have given it to you, what about the people who are living in the same house with us? There is a whole lot more opportunities for them to get it from us considering that we share not only just the same air space, we share bathrooms, beds, eating utensils, and more for year and years. Is there even one person in this group whose spouse or children might have gotten MAC from her?

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@ling123 excellent questions Ling! If, by any chance it is contagious, I would think you would have to inhale a droplet from a sneeze of an infected person, and also have a defective immune system in order to catch it. We must remember that medical science is still learning about this bug. My husband believes that this modern day MAC is a morphed version of TB. TB got erradicated in this country, for the most part, so it is possible it toughened up and became a more resistant variety.MAC continues to morph. It builds resistance to antibiotics and antiseptics. There are many more strains of it and the number continues to grow. I don't want to alarm people, but I have to wonder if it could morph into a contagious variety?

REPLY
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @heathert "@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC..." + (show)
@heathert

@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC is contagious but no definite answer yet that I know of. Ask your Dr who you should report this too, it would be good to know if this is possible, I do not see how it is not possible, most other infections are contageous. Stress does affect the immune system so could have put you more at risk around these patients but we all need to know if it is contagious.

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@macjane , Hi Jane. Will you do me a favor and start putting @_______ at the beginning of your posts like I did here? That way, it directs your response to the person that it is intended for, and it attaches your message to the conversation you are in. Otherwise, your message will just land where it lands and I can't tell if you are talking to me or someone else. Thanks!

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @heathert "@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC..." + (show)
@heathert

@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC is contagious but no definite answer yet that I know of. Ask your Dr who you should report this too, it would be good to know if this is possible, I do not see how it is not possible, most other infections are contageous. Stress does affect the immune system so could have put you more at risk around these patients but we all need to know if it is contagious.

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@irene5 That was spot on!

REPLY
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @heathert "@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC..." + (show)
@heathert

@cmcclure ,thank you for your interesting post, there has been questions as to if this MAC is contagious but no definite answer yet that I know of. Ask your Dr who you should report this too, it would be good to know if this is possible, I do not see how it is not possible, most other infections are contageous. Stress does affect the immune system so could have put you more at risk around these patients but we all need to know if it is contagious.

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@ling123 A good reason to figure out where or how you caught the MAC is to avoid it and not re-infect yourself. Dr. Falkinham said it is the VIRAL LOAD that gets us. For example: if you live in some areas of Wisconsin where the water source has high levels of mac in it and you take hot showers, your chances of getting are higher. Same goes for a person who uses a hot tub every day, there chances go up for catching mac infection.

REPLY
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 16, 2018
In reply to @ling123 "@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious...." + (show)
@ling123

@cmcclure I myself have not come across any published literature that indicates that MAC is contagious. I'm not a doctor and nor am I a medical researcher. So I have no other way to prove or disprove your theory. But one thought came to mind: If you think working around patients with such disease could have given it to you, what about the people who are living in the same house with us? There is a whole lot more opportunities for them to get it from us considering that we share not only just the same air space, we share bathrooms, beds, eating utensils, and more for year and years. Is there even one person in this group whose spouse or children might have gotten MAC from her?

Jump to this post

@ling123 Ling, I think it comes down to the perfect storm; viral load combined with a person who has a lowed immune system.

REPLY
Jo Ann K | @jkiemen | Apr 17, 2018
In reply to @pfists "@Tamarrillo2 Wow yes it's seems late in the season for the flu. I also had it..." + (show)
@pfists

@tamarrillo2
Wow yes it's seems late in the season for the flu.
I also had it this year too it was awful.
Hope you feel better soon!

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Yes the flu shot was not very effective and I think Influenza B doesn't respond to Tamiflu like Influenza A does.

REPLY
tamarrillo2 | @tamarrillo2 | Apr 17, 2018
In reply to @tamarrillo2 "I contracted MAC in the hospital after having lung surgery and then many complications. I definitely..." + (show)
@tamarrillo2

I contracted MAC in the hospital after having lung surgery and then many complications. I definitely have anger at times. The Bronchiectasis came right along with the MAC. I was amazed at how fast it hit. My infectous Disease doctors have told me it’s not contagious. I’ve been on the big three for 2 1/2 yrs. Hope to go off it soon. Currently,I am in the hospital due to influenza. Strange because I always get the flu shot and because it’s so late in the year.
Tammy

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Thank you. I’m feeling a bit better and may be discharged from hospital tomorrow.

REPLY
tamarrillo2 | @tamarrillo2 | Apr 17, 2018
In reply to @pfists "@Tamarrillo2 Wow yes it's seems late in the season for the flu. I also had it..." + (show)
@pfists

@tamarrillo2
Wow yes it's seems late in the season for the flu.
I also had it this year too it was awful.
Hope you feel better soon!

Jump to this post

Thank you. I am feeling a bit better & hope to go home tomorrow

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