Risks of Staphylococcus from Catheterization or Angioplasty

[Jazmine]

Mother,84 years,recently underwent heart catheterization, angioplasty,insertion of two stints (one on each side of the heart).  procedures done on Wednesday and discharged on Friday.  Once home little interest in eating and felt flu like. Checked temperature on Monday, elevated,started tylenol and bedrest,she was tired, weak. Wednesday, awoke had lost total use of her hands. Previously had tingling in last two fingers of both hands from previous neck injury(herniation of two discs). Phoned  cardiologist, advised returning to ER for evaluation. Admitted Wednesday evening, high fever (102). Stated Thursday she had blood infection (Gram mal croc???)treated with IV antibiotics.  Varied Drs. of Cardiology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Rheumatology and Psychiatry visited her bedside. Finally on Monday morning decided loss of hand use believed due to extended time on the table for the heart procedures, started high level steroid in IV, 1gram over six hour period for 2 days. Knee swelled on Sunday nite rheumatologist tapped on Monday and stated blood infection was a staff infection and discontinued steroids and restarted antibiotics.We are confused, could staff infection (initially undetected)cause loss of use of hands,swelling knee and weakness or could extended table time still be the culprit? Why start steroids when infection still present?  Risk of start/stop/steroids of this level?Is this only treatment of hand useloss?Is surgery a good option on neck with mothers history? History includes Emphyzema, asthma, stenosis scoliosis and now heart stints? Respond ASAP still hospitalized.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Jazmine,

Thanks for the questions.  Sorry to read of your mother's ordeal.

I would summarize your mother's case by presuming that she developed a staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection.  This type of infection would explain the fever, flu-like symptoms, weakness, and the swollen knee.  The timing of the infection is most consistent with the cath procedure being the portal of entry for the infection; this type of infection is a known, but uncommon, risk of the procedure.  The elderly are particularly susceptible to this infection.

The hands numbness is more confusing, and I can't comment further without examining your mother.  Bilateral hand paralysis would be a rare complication of either staph infection or a cath procedure.  The doctors probably thought, as would have I, that the numbness was from the prolonged placement on the table -- especially given your mother's history of neck disease.  Steroids would be a potential treatment for this type of numbness, but I am not a neurologist so my comments must be taken with a grain of salt.  Certainly, no physician wants to treat a patient with steroids in the midst of infection, but sometimes it must be done.

Hope that helps.  Good luck.