Pseudomonas and COPD

[marti_girl]

My father in law was jusd diagnosed with pseudomonas. Last week he was in the hospital on a respirator and it is believed he contracted it there. His brother who was taking care of him was also diagnosed with the same thing on the same day my pa in law first got sick. Could my husband's father have been infected first and not shown symptoms first due to being on antibiotic therapy, and his brother contracted it from him, and due to his not being on any antibiotics the disease progressed faster?
Also , how does this spread from person to person? My father in law has the habit of spitting phlegm into a disposable cup or can rather than in a tissue or something more sanitary. Could this have been a contributing factor to his brother getting sick?
My father in law has COPD, has had lung cancer twice, first time it was removed, second time it went into remission with chemo and radiation. He also has emphysema and he won't quit smoking (1 1/2 -2 pks a day). What are the odds of recovery? We need all the ammo we can get to get him to put down the tobacco. Thanks in advance.

[bjp130]

A related discussion, pseudomonas was started.

[ctwoodsman]

I have emphysema/COPD and expel a lot of phlegm on a regular basis. I use coffee can's with a lid and place paper towels in them. Remove the lid, expel and replace the lid. (I) clean these can's out every 3/4 days and keep them clean with Clorox washings. NO ONE but me handles these cans. Have one by my chair, one by the kitchen table and one by my bed. Just a thought you may offer as a suggestion.

[National Jewish]

Your husband's father could have been infected first and not shown symptoms first due to being on antibiotic therapy.  His brother could have contracted it from him.  It is possible that the disease progressed faster since he was not on any antibiotics.  Another key element for someone to become infected with pseudomonas is that their immune system be weakened in some way, such as overwhelming stress or illness.  A person infected with pseudomonas may infect another person at any time.  However they are more likely to infect another person when they have a flare up.

Although it is possible to catch pseudomonas by inhaling the germ from the air coughed out by an infected person, this is unusual.  Pseudomonas is most often spread by direct contact.  So your father-in-law