Vanco/Zosyn allergy for transplant listing

[nu65]

I went through my transplant evaluation in March and heard the decision that my possible listing for lung transplant is put on hold due to my allergic reactions to vancomycin and zosyn. I was going to post this on the transplant forum, but not everybody knows its there and I wanted to hit everybody for their thoughts and experiences.

So I haven't been out-right denied or accepted. I was always under the impression that you could be given high doses of bendryl to overcome the reactions. I've only been placed on them twice because of the hives/fever I would get that accompanied it. I was told they are boht drugs that are used post-transplant. Do you know if this can get me out-right denied? I'm seeing them at transplant weds to discuss.

 

[Transplantmommy]

Which transplant center are you going to? I wasn't on either of those meds after my transplant. I don't get why they're telling you that cause they can always find different meds if you are allergic to certain ones. I think that them telling you that is quite ridiculous.

 

[nu65]

Hey guys, I have the answer to my own question as I talked with my transplant dr this afternoon. They were only concerned about my Zosyn allergy because one of the two strains of pseudamonas I cultured is ONLY sensitive to Zosyn. Pretty crazy luck! But the Dr. is not that concerned because I've only had mild reaction to Zosyn 7 years ago and the immunosuppressants I will be on immediately after surgery probably will hide any kind of reaction. So now I have to tell nurses/drs/etc that I have a mild reaction to Zosyn and have a "desensitization protocol" which my Dr and I went over today. Basically, they will use the Zosyn after surgery if I end up with pneumonia from my PA. It's hard to explain, but I understand it.

PA resides not only in the lungs but the upper airways (throat, trachea) so when they give me new lungs, the PA can sometimes drip down into the new lungs and cause penumonia. My Dr said that about 10-20% of post-transplants get pneumonia. They now have it written out that I will be giving Zosyn if this does happen to me. Vanco is not an issue since they have other ABX to use for the other strain.

My Dr. also said I will probably get listed next week!!

 

[kbquincy]

Hi Jessica, I know this was posted a while ago, but I just wanted to tell you that I was either resistant or allergic to every antibiotic pre-TX except colistin which they would only give to me in inhalation. Bottom line, once I was transplanted, I actually became sensitive to quite a few drugs. I too am allergic to Zosyn. Hope this helps. Good luck, Kim

 

[summer732]

I'm allergic to Zoysn as well. I wonder if CF patients are more sensitive to this antibiotic for some reason? From what I understand it's in the same family as Cipro and Levaquin but I'm not allergic to them.

I was on IVs for about 4 weeks after transplant. I forget what they gave me. It started with a P. I think. The pre treated me with Zosyn at my dry run and it was AWFUL.