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New Infection- Candidas Albicans

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robert157
robert157

This infection is completely new to me and wondered if anybody out there has any experience of Candidas Albicans. It seemingly occurs after long term use of multiple antibiotics and can be quite harmful to people with damaged lungs through advanced bronchiectasis.

Sputum production has increased dramatically and very short of breath......recommended medication is Fluconazole. Can anybody share my experience?  Rob

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Kathleen1952
    Kathleen1952 robert157

    Posted

    I havent heard of this might be worth a word with chest consutant have you looked the drug up they often give an insight to the conditin
  • sam90709
    sam90709 robert157

    Posted

    Hi Robert

    you seem to have a rarity! It microbiological surveys of Bx patients, sputum samples with candida are rather uncommon!

    Candida is a fungus and there seems to be some debate about what it means in sputum samples. A lot of us have candida living on us all the time and usually it doesn't amount to anything. So sometimes, particularly if you are otherwise well and have no immunological problems it could just be an irrelevance.

    However, it can cause annoying fungal infections - think thrush - and this can also happen in the lungs for people with impaired lungs. That's the sort of thing you would associate with a straightforward antifungal treatment like flucanozole.

    Having said that though, I am surprised you were not either given an immune test or steroids. The reason I say that is that candida can also cause what is effectively an allergic reaction in the lungs - that produces asthmatic symptoms and heavy discoloured sputum production. Usually we see allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis - different fungus - but on a small number of cases it's allergic bronchopulmonary candidiasis. This is usually tested for by either a  blood test that checks bits of your immune system for reactions to the fungus or a skin prick test looking for an allergic reaction to the fungus. Treatment is an anti-fungal agent and steroids (to reduce the allergic reaction). This clears it up nicely.

    finally, there are some suggestions that candida can be a marker for other sorts of fungal infections that may be more serious. There doesn't appear to be uniform agreement on this.

    hope that helps!

    sam

    • robert157
      robert157 sam90709

      Posted

      Thanks Sam...all very interesting. Two different doctors at my hospital gave conflicting opinions as whether to treat such a pulmonary infection candidas albicans. As I have advanced bronchiectasis I would of thought treatment was essential. Your comment about this fungus creating asthma like symptoms is interesting as when my GP listened to my chest he said there is evidence of asthma on his examination. I am very short of breath just now which is abnormal for me, however lab results of my sputum also showed up other bugs that needs IV antibiotic treatment.....achromobacter I think!

      Presntly I am taking 5mg of steroids daily for RA so hopefully that combined with fluconazole and a course of IV antibiotics should give my lungs a good clean and scrubbing out.

      ​Your comments have been extremely helpful...are you a health professional?   Rob

    • sam90709
      sam90709 robert157

      Posted

      Glad you found that useful. I guess if you've got the 5mg steroids already the doctors may be wondering if (1) you could show the pronounced allergic reaction or (2) since you're taking them, just give the antifungal and you've got it all anyway.

      Achromobacter as well ... You're clocking up the points on the iSpy book of chest infections... 

      To your last question, no, I'm not a health professional, but I was a scientist, I am a compulsive auto-didact and I do have Bx. So I spend a lot of time reading research journal articles online trying to learn about what's going on in my lungs. It is, I guess, how I go about trying to assert some feeling of control. We all have our ways of coping and my inner lab-rat is mine!

      cheers

      Sam

       

    • robert157
      robert157 sam90709

      Posted

      Thanks again......I'm with you about finding everything about bronchiectasis .....I am also big on patient self management to the point I created a support website www.bronchiectasishelp.org.uk on patient self management....from a patient's perspective....... lots of contributions from health professionals....and proving very popular throughout the world.

      Rob

    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator robert157

      Posted

      Hi Robert,

      For info: the link to our page about your site is linked in the right sidebar on every bronchiectasis discussion in these forums. See top right - link to Bronchiectasis Help so if you wish to let users know without waiting for moderation you can use that link or just say see the link on this page (and any other threads in the group).

      Regards,

      Alan

  • kathleen29123
    kathleen29123 robert157

    Posted

    Hello Robert,

    I have similar problems but the candida is something I’ve had since childhood, the bronchiectasis followed in adulthood. That has mostly been kept under control with antibiotics ( maintainance ) but it is indeed a viscous circle as the candida problem worsens as a result of using the those. I’ve been trying to research the link between the two issues but it’s difficult. I’ve recentky been diagnosed with an immunity deficiency disorder which is supposed to explain the candida but the doctors won’t say anything about the long nl between that and the lung issue.

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