1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis
Profile picture for drewinsac

How many lung infections do u get over a year?

Posted by drewinsac @drewinsac, Aug 2, 2025

Hi All, I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis Oct 2022. Since then, I have always had some kind of lung infection. My cycle if you can call it that; Over my 1st year, I had ecoli and was on antibiotics over a month off two weeks and I started expectorating more; I get a sputum culture and comes out ecoli again and take antibiotics again. This pattern went on for a year until it disappeared.

Two weeks after my last dose for ecoli, I then got pseudomonas and some other fungus/ yeast infection (using cresemba to rid of it) and have been on this cycle for the past two years.

Has anyone ever been clear of infections after their antibiotics for a month or more before the next infection? Or is the cycle. just being on antibiotics for a month, and the infection comes back in 1 or 2 weeks then on a different antibiotic again and again, etc, etc?

I am very frustrated and rather isolated as it is difficult to socialize because of all the coughing and expectorating.

Thanks. hoping someone can let me know if their doctor has done something differently, than antibiotics for a month and lung clearing 2-3x daily

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Profile picture for drewinsac
drewinsac | @drewinsac | Aug 4, 2025
In reply to @sueinmn "Yours sounds like a complex situation. Are you seeing a pulmonologist who is an expert at..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Yours sounds like a complex situation. Are you seeing a pulmonologist who is an expert at treating Bronchiectasis and related infections?

First, there is a variant of bronchiectasis known as "dry bronchiectasis" that means the lungs seldom produce mucus. Maybe that is you? It would be a good question for your pulmonologist. I would hesitate to add more 7% saline until you have this conversation, unless you try it once and it really helps, then you could call for clearance to do it. Your prescription would also need to be updated to get more each month.

Second, when you submit a sputum sample, do you submit more than one vial, collected over 3 or more days (and stored in the refrigerator until submitted)? This helps insure the doc is seeing what is in your lungs, and not accidental contamination from your sinuses, saliva or the air.

Finally, have any of your infections being treated with antibiotics? There is a new protocol that suggests treating Pseudomonas to avoid having it colonize in your lungs, where it becomes much more difficult to clear.

Good luck, this can be a difficult path to follow.

Jump to this post

Thanks!! I have a pulmonologist and infectious disease person and not sure if they are experts on BE. I will ask about set BE. Had taken a lot different antibiotics and I think my lungs are already colonized with PSA. Thanks for the information

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.