Allergy to antibiotics

[tubby linton]

This is not aviation related apart from I am a pilot who needs some info. My adult daughter has an infection but is antibiotic intolerant.She has been given antibiotics due to an infection post surgery, having had a peforated appendix removed. The hospital has tried Vancomycin by Iv infusiion but she goes into the early stages of anaphalactyic shock, heart slows and difficulty breathing.
I really need some info on what may be a suitable alternative or a regime to administer it but much more slowly.

[obgraham]

Tough situation TL. This would call for an Infectious Disease sub-specialist to sort through the available alternates, depending on the organisms involved, and the clinical situation. Not really able to get more specific in a web forum. If you are in a place without such folks, no doubt a tele-consultation could be arranged.

I seem to recall that allergy to Vanco is uncommon, but with what you describe, I doubt anyone would persist trying that one. Going slower wouldn't work.

Best wishes for your daughter. It's another of many reminders that appendicitis in adults, especially women, is not to be trifled with.

[tubby linton]

Thank you for the reply. Her perforated appendix was descibed by the Doctor as the workst he has ever seen. Pus was all over her abdomen and around her liver , pancreas and down to her uterus. This is all happening in the capital city of a first world country.

[obgraham]

Let me change part of what I wrote above:

There are not uncommon reactions to Vancomycin which might sound like an allergic reaction but are not. They are sometimes seen on the very first dose, which is not common for a true allergic reaction. It turns out that slowing the infusion may well allow the treatment to continue.

But I'll stick to the real advice: Infectious Disease folks understand these things, and will be the best source of help in a specific case.

[abgd]

I really need some info on what may be a suitable alternative or a regime to administer it but much more slowly.


No you don't. You need to trust your daughter's doctors to find a suitable alternative. There are many different antibiotics that might be suitable for such an infection and she is unlikely to react badly to more than a few different types. If one doesn't work or disagrees with her, then you simply move on to the next.


Your job is not to be her doctor: it's to be her Dad.

[Alchemy101]

There's so many alternatives to vancomycin in this instance.. and I echo abgd. Assuming it's a reasonable institution the doctors will know what to do - and won't (hopefully) need you to brainstorm antibiotic choices! Hang in there

[tubby linton]

It doesn't fill me with confidence when daughter is given vancomycin, has a very bad reaction to it(heart rate dramatically slowing) and then a few days later the medical staff want to give it to her again ad they seemed unaware what happened the first time!

[Radgirl]

A slow heart rate is not anaphylaxis unless it progresses so much that death is imminent. I doubt we will work out what happened on this thread but I dont think it was an allergy

I would reinforce what others have said - this is a common situation where a consultant microbiologist, provided with samples and blood, will be able to advise on a suitable antibiotic regimen. Nobody here can help you even if they are themselves a microbiologist as they wont have the laboratory data. You can always ask to meet the microbiologist - many of them are delighted to come to the bedside and discuss.

I would also add what I commonly write here - anyone who says they are the best or the case is the worst needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Pus in the abdomen is quite common with appendicitis and if your daughter is young and fit, and stable after a day or so the outlook is hopefully not too bad.

Best of luck