Pseudomonas is a bacteria that infects a large number of CF patients. After doing some research online and from what I learned from my doctors here is a brief over view of what it is:
A person afflicted with the pseudomonas infection as a result of his vulnerability caused by cystic fibrosis will display the following symptoms:
- Coughing,
- Difficulty in breathing,
- Wheezing,
- Lack of appetite,
- Fatigue,
- Weight loss,
- A blue tinge may be present on the skin,
- The patient’s abdomen may be slightly enlarged, and
- Lung failure
It is very important for patients to be treated as soon as possible when pseudomonas is detected in the lungs. This can be done through the administration of antibiotics, such as inhaled Tobi or Tobramicyn. Unfortunately, more often than not pseudomonas infection becomes chronic in cystic fibrosis patients.
You can read more here : http://www.aboutcysticfibrosis.com/cystic-fibrosis-pseudomonas.htm
So far, I have had all of these symptoms except the last three listed. My lungs have obviously been severely affected but not to the point they have failed.
If you read on it is very hard to fight this infection because it has the capability to create a protective shell around itself, called a biofilm. This makes it very resistant to a wide range of antibiotics.
I am starting two antibiotics today called Tobramycin and Meropenem, both through my PICC line.
On top of these antibiotics I am taking my Vest ThAIRapy treatment once every 3 hours, along with an inhaled treatment of Albuterol. Both of these help me cough up more mucus, and the more I cough up the better.
I have been on Tobramycin before the last time I grew Pseudomonas late last year. I have never been on Meropenem and the doctors are hoping that I react well with it.