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07-19-2009, 10:04 PM

Hi, Jessica,

I know of a case where the suspected "sternum" met turned out to be a sternum infected with MDR staff and viridans strep. The viridans strep is an alpha - hemolytic bacteria that destroys the heme in the red blood cells, causing the kidneys to pump out proteins which act like glue and clog the ureters. The patient had great difficulty urinating and put on ascites in the belly that was so bloated and when the ascites was drained and analysed --it was a green fluid (viridans strep gets its name from the latin word for green), it contained lymphocytes, and giant cells--consistent with severe infection. The patient was also having green bowel movements...with great difficulty and was extremely anorexic. Many cancer patients colonize viridans strep after years on treatment--it would be worth either a biopsy of the sternum or a wound culture if it is leaking fluid through the skin to be DOUBLE sure that it is not an infection--especially if the area looks red and angry. Be sure to check your RBC's, your hemoglobin and hemocrit levels on your CBC's prior to the October hospitalization and your platelets as they tend to go really low as well--below 150. The hemocrit and hemoglobin may go low enough for procrit or even blood transfusions...in cancer patients, a severe infection is often overlooked --especially when the WBC's remain unelevated and there is no fever...also the situation in this case study.

Concerned researcher.

07-19-2009, 10:04 PM	#12
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	If you also have severe anemia with the kidney problems read this: Hi, Jessica, I know of a case where the suspected "sternum" met turned out to be a sternum infected with MDR staff and viridans strep. The viridans strep is an alpha - hemolytic bacteria that destroys the heme in the red blood cells, causing the kidneys to pump out proteins which act like glue and clog the ureters. The patient had great difficulty urinating and put on ascites in the belly that was so bloated and when the ascites was drained and analysed --it was a green fluid (viridans strep gets its name from the latin word for green), it contained lymphocytes, and giant cells--consistent with severe infection. The patient was also having green bowel movements...with great difficulty and was extremely anorexic. Many cancer patients colonize viridans strep after years on treatment--it would be worth either a biopsy of the sternum or a wound culture if it is leaking fluid through the skin to be DOUBLE sure that it is not an infection--especially if the area looks red and angry. Be sure to check your RBC's, your hemoglobin and hemocrit levels on your CBC's prior to the October hospitalization and your platelets as they tend to go really low as well--below 150. The hemocrit and hemoglobin may go low enough for procrit or even blood transfusions...in cancer patients, a severe infection is often overlooked --especially when the WBC's remain unelevated and there is no fever...also the situation in this case study. Concerned researcher.