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Dear Dr. Stoll,
I have searched your archives under ecoli and bladder infections, but was unable to find what this problem. My husband landed in the ER a week ago with a temperature of 103.8. They did a urine and blood test and said he had a bladder infection. They gave him a shot along with a prescription of Cipro (500mg) to be taken twice a day. The next morning the doctor from the ER called to see how he was doing and to inform him that the infection was in his bloodstream. If he was no better later in the day, he was told to go back to the ER for another shot....he had to do that....he felt awful, every joint and muscle ached. Two days after that, after the antibiotics had a chance to work, he began to feel better. Not great! He was told to go to the urologist to determine HOW he got this infection. He did that and was told the infection was ecoli. AND....they didn't know how he had gotten it, but that prior to 1978, people have died from this. This doctor said that the medical field is so baffled about how this bacteria gets into the male bladder, there are studies being done....and, my husband was asked if he would participate in one. Now, I want you to know that for the past 12 weeks my husband has been filling in for the driver of what we call in New England, a "honey wagon".....a truck that pumps septic systems.
Of course, gloves are worn and every precaution is taken when doing this job.....BUT.....I must add that this is an old truck and at least twice a week, breaks down and my husband ends up doing the repairs.
Now....my question is, is there ANY possible way he could have contracted this bacteria through this job?? I could easily see that although he is very careful, with other people using the same equipment who might NOT be.....that perhaps during the course of the day, when he had to urinate, he could have passed the bacteria onto his body THAT way....no?? Is that way out of the realm of possiblities?
I have never heard of ecoli entering the body through the bladder....is this common? The urologist said that, unfortunately, there is an 80% chance of re-occurance. Could you possibly verify the information given to my husband.....and/or offer advice as to whether there is anything he could be doing to boost his immune system to avoid this from happening again. Someone told me that he should take mega doses of vitamin C. Would that help? My hushand is very rarely sick and this has certainly knocked him down. The doctor in the ER said they would have put him in the hospital, but with his immune system shut down, they were concerned he might pick up something else. Any information you could share would be appreciated. Thank you. (By the way, I found your archives MOST HELPFUL with regards to pilonidal cysts, which my 20 year-old just had surgery on for the fourth time!!!)
In Reply to: Ecoli in bladder posted by Debbie on December 04, 2000 at 17:21:54:
Hi, Debbie.
First of all, bladder infections,by themselves, RARELY cause a fever. He had to also have a prostate infection OR a kidney infection to have a fever this high!!! The doc who saw him had to know this BEFORE the blood test came back.
Bladder infections do not get into the blood stream unless the immune system is compromised OR the prostate or kidneys are involved (and even then the immune system has to be somewhat compromised).
ALL infections are a combination of a person's immunity and the concentration of the infecting organism in the area. Certainly, his job caused the highest possible concentration of E-Coli possible. SO, if his immunity was not good enough to resist this high concentration, this could be a contributing cause.
This is uncommon in men simply because of the length of the urethra as compared to women. The germ nearly always has to traverse the entire urethra to cause this. It CAN come from the blood but that is RARE.
Wellness is the best way to assure immunity. The vitamin C is also helpful at least temporarily (at least 2 grams twice a day). See the glossary for "wellness".
Your doc did him a favor by keeping him out of the hospital. However, he needs to see a urologist to determine how and why this happened this way.
Let us know how he does and why this happened.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Ecoli in bladder posted by Walt Stoll on December 06, 2000 at 10:53:50:
Thank you, Dr. Stoll!! My husband will finish his second prescription of Cipro this Friday. It has taken all this time for him to BEGIN to get his energy back! Then next week he goes in for a pyelogram, ordered by the urologist. He will also get information about being part of a study, the good part of THAT being he will be closely monitored over time. Interestingly, for the last several weeks, my husband has complained of back pain upon rising in the morning.....hmmmmm, could that have been the infection brewing in the kidneys?!!! Would there be in danger in my husband passing this kind of infection to me or anyone else in the family? Thanks, again, for your help.
In Reply to: Re: Ecoli in bladder posted by Debbie on December 06, 2000 at 17:28:02:
Hi, Debbie.
Answers to your questions in order are: yes and no.
His back synmptoms were almost certainly due to his pyelonephritis which was his actual diagnosis rather than a bladder infection. SO, his pyelogram is VERY important!
White cells in the urine without fever is almost always cystitis. With fever, it is ALWAYS either pyelonephritis OR prostatitis.
Walt
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