9 replies to this topic

[Teresa77]

My mother has been diagnosed with a kidney infection that is resistant to every antibiotic except ONE, which would have to be given via I.V.
There are companies that would come to the home to do this, except they want my mother to have a PICC line in her arm, which would require a trip to the hospital.
This is a problem because in addition to being paralyzed she is also on a ventilator via trach, and she is 75 years old. Trips like these just destroy her. I would at least like to wait until the weather is warmer if she absolutely has to make a day trip to the hospital.
Does anyone have advice as to what we can do in the meantime? I am giving her lots of water to drink, and we self cath, but I am wondering if there are any other natural rememdies that might help. I know the infection won't clear up without the antibiotics, but I want to keep her from getting worse until she can get the antibiotics.
Thank you!

[airart1]

u can try some cranberry pills, high doses of vitamin c will help also............

[dangerousdave]

Silly question time
But the 2 do get confused sometimes

Kidney infection as in the Organ Which is hospilization time

Or Bladder as in urine infection

[ADP-10-08-63]

Cranberry juice.
And plenty of water to keep flushed through my average now 3 x 2lts chilled evian over the day.
Ensure you have a district nurse who can help and test o see if you are getting better or need better course of action.
I sincerely wish well and a speedy recovery.

Edited by Apparelyzed, 10 March 2010 - 03:07 PM.

[KeepTheFaith]

I am assuming that your mother has a bad MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) infection which has gone from the bladder to the kidneys and is only treatable with IV Vancomycin. It is common practice to administer this via PICC line because she will need quite a few doses and it is caustic to the peripheral veins. There are Home Health Agencies that send specially trained nurses to the home to insert these, so call around.

It is important to get this infection under control. Once that happens, then you can start a good prevention program to keep from getting further infections - ie:cranberry pills, Vit C, extra fluid, etc.

Edited by KeepTheFaith, 28 February 2010 - 04:58 AM.

[Trinity]

KeepTheFaith, on Feb 28 2010, 03:41 AM, said:

I am assuming that your mother has a bad MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) infection which has gone from the bladder to the kidneys and is only treatable with IV Vancomycin. It is common practice to administer this via PICC line because she will need quite a few doses and it is caustic to the peripheral veins. There are Home Health Agencies that send specially trained nurses to the home to insert these, so call around.

It is important to get this infection under control. Once that happens, then you can start a good prevention program to keep from getting further infections - ie:cranberry pills, Vit C, extra fluid, etc.

OK, just a few points...
If it IS MRSA then there are other drugs despite vancomycin that can be used depending on sensitivities, vancomycin just happens to be the cheapest but we rarely use it over here, instead opting for other antibiotics such as teicoplanin, linezolid and daptomycin. Teicoplanin can be given intramuscular and inezolid can be given orally but it is very expensive. I would be very skeptical about a PICC line being insert at home, an xray should be taken after instertion as the tip of the line sits just at the top of th e heart, placement is precise and crucial.

A PICC line is quick and easy to place however and it should just be a day case procedure.
I totally agree that prevention is better than cure, but cure is what's needed at the moment. If it's a severe infection it needs to be hit good and hard before it is untreatable.

[KeepTheFaith]

Here in California, there are home IV agencies that insert PICC lines in the home. A certified nurse inserts it using portable ultrasound and that is followed by an in-home portable x-ray. My mother has been a nurse for 30 years and worked with an infectious disease doctor, so this info came from her. Yes there are other drugs that can treat MRSA, you are right. Teresa77 stated that her mother has an infection that is resistant to all antibiotics, but one, so she was making an assumption here that it was probably Vanco and a PICC line would be best for that.

Peace out!

Edited by KeepTheFaith, 02 March 2010 - 02:57 AM.

[Trinity]

Teresa,
I guess the answer is to research everything very very thoroughly and find out what alternatives really are available to you. In my experience doctors often take the easiest/cheapest route and don't always take the persons wishes into account as as much as maybe they should.

What are your mothers wishes in all this, in what way would she be destroyed with the trip to hospital and does she understand the consequences if she doesn't get the line and therefore the treatment? How much information have you got from the doctors, have they explained the pros and cons of the treatment? Is it possible to get another opinion on treatment plans?

[Teresa77]

Thanks to everyone for all the help!
I found out the IV antibiotic is imipenem. The I.V. companies don't want to seem to come out and do a PICC but will tell them to check with nursing agencies.
My mother has multiple sclerosis, and due to that plus her age, just the act of being transported and moved around via stretchers can make her have an excabertion, which could disable her further.

ETA: She also had MRSA pneumonia in the hospital and was on vancomycin for that, since I see people mentioning it.

Edited by Teresa77, 02 March 2010 - 06:26 PM.

[KeepTheFaith]

Imipenum can be given IM, so check with the doctor whether this might be an option.