Mycoplasma Pneumonia Colonization Treatment

[Nejwa]

Thank you for the advise, much appreciated.

One further clarification please -
you mention that at least a 6month therapy with Biaxin is required to eradicate colonization.....I have had 3 months therapy with Biaxin 500mg twice a day April 03 to June 03. Obviously the 3 months therapy was not sufficinent hence why although better im still symptomatic!

1. Do I now need to do at least a further 3 months therapy with Biaxin or start fresh a minimum 6 months therapy?

2. Does the several months gap since completing the 3 months biaxin therapy void the treatment hence why I would need to start the antibiotic therapy from scratch?

I have done a reversibility test and a lung function test and it proved that I dont have asthma!! Although airway limitation was observed.

3. Is there a test I can do that would clearly prove the mycoplasma colonization??

Thank you v.much - Your help will be very much appreciated. Nejwa
PS. I have posted this as a reply question to your reply but it came up as a comment so Im sending it as a question (incase there is a difference!)

[National Jewish]

Although your testing proved that you do not have asthma, you mentioned that airway limitation was observed.  You will need to ask your doctor to explain the difference.  Please work with your doctor to see if you should be tested and treated for mycoplasma colonization.  If you are colonized with mycoplasma, you would probably need BiaxinŽ (clarithromycin) for a trial of 6 consecutive months.  A pulmonologist familiar with mycoplasma would be the type of specialist to test you and get you on the best treatment to keep your lungs healthy.

The citation below is for an article written by doctors at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.  You are welcome to share this with your doctor.  Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumonia in Asthma: Effect of Clarithromycin by Monica Kraft, MD, FCCP; Gail H. Cassell, PhD; Juno Pak, BS; and Richard J. Martin, MD, FCCP in CHEST, 2002 June, Volume 121, Number 6, pages 1782-1788.

[blondeviolin]

Have you had a methacholine challenge?  This will tell them how twitchy your lungs are...

[starion]

My mycoplasma colonization was proven via a bronchoscopy with biopsies & lavage & suction.  The exact duration as to how long any particular individual needs to be on Biaxin or other antibiotic to irradicate the mycoplasma appears more "art" than "science," and varies CONSIDERABLY among patients--some patients take months others YEARS of antibiotics.  Similarly, it appears the dose varies a great deal with different individuals.
Folks CAN have asthma that can only be diagnosed via methacholine challenge & challenging EIA/EIB test.  Sometimes even those are not conclusive (as in my kids' cases).
Aloha,
Starion

[Nejwa]

Thanks for the reply!

blondeviolin - Yes I had a meth challenge test and i got soem congestion and tightness after 2 hours not suring the test which lead the practitioner to add in my notes that the results were normal....then was told by specialist that if it was asthma then iw ould have reacted during test,

Starion - my doctors are reluctant to do a biopsy...where i am mycoplasam is left to the immune system to figth even if it means making the patient unwell for sometime...i will be seeking medical advise out of town for this.
What lead your doctors to fo the bronchoscopy?  How did you get treated? with antibiotics! for how long?
Sorry about your kid...done know how old her/she is do you think might also have mycoplasma? as it can spread within families quick!!  Hope you and your kid is better now!