Staphylococcus aureus show up in a sputum test?

Posted by Lisa Y @tutti, Apr 19, 2024

I recently had staphylococcus aureus show up in a sputum test. This a first for me. Has anyone else had staphylococcus aureua show up on a sputum test? The Dr assist said they are not treating because of possible antibiotic resistance. Has anyone else dealt with this? I guess it's another bump in the road on this journey with bronchiectasis. Thanks friends!

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@tutti - Yes, it showed up a few times for me. The ID doc said it was probably contamination, and in fact a nasal swab showed it had colonized there. He told me this was very common, but "out of an abundance of caution", it was treated with a salve in my nostrils for a few weeks.
Sue

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It showed up in my sputum culture a few times over the years but not for awhile now. My recollection is that it was treated after the lab determined susceptibility/resistance. The decision of whether to treat or not was coupled with how I was feeling at the time.

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Thank you so much for commenting. That is what they told me. I'm feeling good so no antibiotic. Yay! You made my day. 😊😘

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@sueinmn

@tutti - Yes, it showed up a few times for me. The ID doc said it was probably contamination, and in fact a nasal swab showed it had colonized there. He told me this was very common, but "out of an abundance of caution", it was treated with a salve in my nostrils for a few weeks.
Sue

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Thank you so much for commenting. Knowledge from someone who has dealt with this is so much better than goggle. Thanks again friend!😊😘

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I just tested positive for this also. Since I am producing more sputum than usual, chest is a little achy and more fatigue, and because it's my first time testing + for this, they're putting me on 10 days of doxycycline.

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Here's what the doc office said regarding abx and staph in my case:

"Given that this is your first growth of staph and your symptoms have changed, we should treat with a course of antibiotics. The staph is susceptible to doxycyline and you have tolerated this antibiotic well in the past. You can drop another sputum sample off a couple weeks after completing the antibiotic course".

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@kdiago1564

Here's what the doc office said regarding abx and staph in my case:

"Given that this is your first growth of staph and your symptoms have changed, we should treat with a course of antibiotics. The staph is susceptible to doxycyline and you have tolerated this antibiotic well in the past. You can drop another sputum sample off a couple weeks after completing the antibiotic course".

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In my case my Dr also waited to treat. My sputum increased a lot so they did a couple rounds of Doxycycline. But everytime in finished the Doxycycline in a few weeks it would return and my sputum would in rease again. So I'm on Doxycycline indefinitely. It's been about 8 months. My last sputum test was negative for Staph but it was hard for me to get enough sputum. I gonna take another we I can get a good sample. I don't see my Dr till September. They did say I could possibly have to take Doxycycline for life, I hope not. It actually hasn't been bad, it really decreased the sputum immensely. Just another bump in the road with this bronchiectasis journey.

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