E coli in my lungs

Posted by estero09 @estero09, Jan 7 5:50am

I had mycobacterium Abscessus 7 years ago and was succesfully treated. I now have been diagnosed with E Coli in my lungs. I do not have symptoms but in light of my bronchiectasis should I treat it with intravenous AB? There is not much info out there.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 11 9:25am

@estero09 E. coli pneumonia can be very serious, even fatal, so treatment is usually recommended. I am not sure at what stage IV antibiotics are recommended.
This is probably not something you should ignore until you feel ill, because with compromised lungs it will not "just go away" on its own.

May I ask whether this was diagnosed via a sputum sample or a bronchoscopy? Was the test repeated to confirm the results? And what does your pulmonologist or ID doc recommend?
Sue

estero09 | @estero09 | Jan 19 7:22am

In reply to @sueinmn "@estero09 E. coli pneumonia can be very serious, even fatal, so treatment is usually recommended. I..." + (show)

Thank you Sue for your reply.
I have had numerous sputum samples going back to 2022, all showing various concentrations of E.Coli. Even though I have been asymptomatic my ID doctor suggested I try 5 days of oral AB which I just finished. I will see him again in March and am considering AB via Nebu even though he told me most patients cannot tolerate that drug.
There is hardly any literature on this subject.
I do not have pneumonia obviously, otherwise I would be in the hospital.
I am amazed that not more bronchiectasis patients have this bug.

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