Question about different bacteria & sputum....

[anonymous]

I was just diagnosed with CF 2 years ago and I am now 33. I cultured pseudo and staph back in Oct 03, got sick and was aggressively treated with cipro & TOBI. I had a bronch done early Dec. and my cultures came back clear, but he only took a sample from my upper left lobe, because it was the most edematous. In early Feb I cultured stenotrophomonas maltophilia and staph, (but no pseudo) and soon after became sick again and was put on Levaquin (one of the few that the steno was sensitive to) It has taken me awhile to bounce back, but I am starting to feel better now. I wanted to find out though if when you are in-between infections, and feeling okay, yet you're coughing up colored mucus, (i.e. anywhere from dark yellow to greenish) does that mean there are still bacteria in there? I guess I just am not sure if colored sputum is the "norm".Also, have any of you who have cultured steno had any problems with it?? There is just not a whole lot of info about steno and its clinical significance. Thanks in advance,Jen

 

[anonymous]

Some color is to be expected. My best is white and yellow. The color indicates bacteria, which will always be there with CF. The key is to keep an eye on it. Even if you feel well, a darkening in color or thickening in consistancy might be an indicator that bacteria is having a party...and you should crash it soon. The best way to keep it at bay is to be agressive with your chest therapy. Puff your pulmozyme, cough it up! Getting the mucus out gets the bacteria out.Being on antibiotics is the usual routine, but those can make you feel just as crappy some times.When you do feel well, take time to exercise, get enough sleep, relax! Take your vitimins, eat right. Keeping your weight at a healthy level helpd boost the immune system. You'll get the hang of it.Debbie22 yr old w/ CF

 

[anonymous]

there will always be bacteria in your lungs . u just have to keep up with aggresive therapy so it doesn't become an infection.