Infectious Disease Dr said I have 2 bacterial infections - klebsialla (coliform, or a kind of E. coli, which everyone carries) and serratia (water based). Who knows how I got them or why. I'm getting oral antibiotic Levaquin now, once every 24 hours, for five days. Don't click on the links unless you enjoy being grossed out or like medical stuff.
My friend G told me the following: "Serratia marcescens belongs the family Enterobacteriaceae, which includes E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. They are both associated with nosocomial infections (hospital acquired). Serratia in particular is associated with catheter-associated bacteremia."
So it was correct to presume that my PICC line was the cause of these infections. And I have been prone to infections for several years, since my early onset breast cancer in 1999 (I developed toxic shock syndrome in the drain placed after my lumpectomy). This shouldn't have surprised anyone. And yet it did. Even though I've been hospitalized several times over the years for infections.
But I am healthy now and ready to pick up life from where it veered last week. Thank you Swedish Medical Center's phenomenal staff!
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Long-time blog reader here. Glad you are home and on the mend. Hospital stays are never fun. Healing thoughts coming your way from Mexico!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI was recently diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer. May I ask how long you have been living with metastasis?
Hi Jill - I was encouraged when I read your story on another site. I've been diagnosed with breast cancer mets in lungs, liver, chest wall, lymph nodes, neck and a new primary tumour in my "good breast" !! And there was me thinking they were checking for a kidney stone! I've been given two years max to live, but hey I've got those boxing gloves on and jumped into the boxing ring. I've already told my oncologist I'm not going down without a fight!
ReplyDeleteSomeone else with serratia! I had it installed with my tissue expander (not at my request). In order to get out of the hospital after a week, I had to have a PICC line for IV abx, which then gave me a blood clot.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for what you are going through. Nobody ever said this life was easy.
Cathy