My elderly relative presenting with severe diarrhoea (sometimes with blood) and fever (38.5) has now been diagnosed with campylobacter infection. He is going 8 times a day and has become dehydrated and started hallucinating. The hospital told him he is ‘getting better’ simply because his fever has now (predictably) come down and took him off his IV fluids, saying he can just drink water, which only causes him worse symptoms. We had to fight to get him put back on them. Obviously they want the bed and are making noises about discharge. They are refusing antibiotics even on day six. This seems to contradict guidelines (may even be negligence?). They keep saying it is not their policy to give antibiotics.
They also gave him omeprazole (reduces stomach acid and increases risk of infection) and furosemide (a diuretic, which would make him more dehydrated).
Worried doesn’t begin to cover it. Anyone experienced similar and has any suggestions of how we move things forward, please reply. No horror stories, please, I just need practical insights.