* initially (ie day 1), streptococcus pyogenes was confirmed in kristen's blood and tissue sample from left calf. this is being treated with four different antibiotics intravenously;;
* cultures from leg tissue continue to show bacteria. a "significant amount" of the muscle below the knee is no longer viable;
* medial fasciotomy incision was re-opened monday march 15 and bacterial activity was present;
* no mrsa (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - really bad crap) in any blood or tissue samples;
* no hiv infection;
* fever has abated somewhat though high heart rate (110 to over 120bpm) continues;
* extensive testing did not reveal any additional infection sites - ie an abscess. a transesophageal echo showed her heart did not have active bacterial infection;
* mouth sores and swelling are not thrush;
* 4 to 6 week intravenous antibiotic treatment is still expected, much of it at home;
* status and cause of mouth sores and swelling may not be known for weeks due to the fact that the systemic trauma of all this and use of immunoglobin prevents reliable testing at this time (unclear to me precisely why);
i will update this as information comes in, so unlike other posts this one will be continually updated.
Two more positive notes on top of yesterday's debridement news! No MRSA, no HIV!
ReplyDeleteThis is a boost to those of us out here who are sending so many positive thoughts your way. And I hope it's a boost to you and Kristen and everyone else on the front lines.
Suzanne
kristen, our thoughts and prayers are with you every day, please get well soon, we love you, arlene, richard, jeff and jennifer
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