Just been for post-op review, in great spirits because recovery over past 4+ weeks has gone so v well.
First, taken aback to see, not my surgeon, but one of his staff.
Secondly, his heavy accent made it v difficult to understand what he was saying.
However, it seems that they take tissue samples during the op. These have since shown the presence of 'unusual' bacteria. Pushing him, I eventually understood that these are usually found on the skin.
That's as far as I could get. Blood taken for further tests. He said he'd ring me in a few days and I've been given another appointment for 2 weeks time.
My optimism bubble was been well and truly piped. Has anyone any information/advice on this?
Sorry to hear this .... what a bummer - good thing though - I have not heard of this tissue sample taken ... I am curious to find out if others have ....
try to not allow this "news" bring you down .... warm hug
Not only am I a hippy but my job is in in microbiology, isolating bacteria, from patients samples. Yes the skin normally does have bacteria on it and sometimes these can get into wounds. The lab will thoroughly identify these and test which antibiotics will be suitable for treatment. This can take a few days as bacteria need to grow at least overnight during the tests. Bacteria are unicellular plants. Tissue samples for culture are not taken during every op, only when there is a possibility of infection within the joint, they are often present in very low numbers and need specialised long time enrichment techniques to isolate them, hence the seemingly long time for any conclusive results. Hope this helps
Forgot to say, sometimes these bacteria can enter the blood stream. There is a blood culture test which tests for this, again takes several days as they will be in low numbers and need TLC to grow
I don't suppose it would be possible for you to guess which bacteria these might be, and the nature of them, so I'd have more chance of finding information on the Internet?
Species of Staphylococcus, alpha haemolytic strep, diptheroids. Sometimes mouth flora, which consists of a lot of stress and anaerobic bacteria, is also found. They can get in the blood stream after dental treatment
Ok. Have done some basic research. Virtually all I've discovered seem to agree - if it's an infection, then not good news, as normal antibiotic therapy can't reach the site. Not v pleasant alternatives!
Question now seems to be 'what constitutes an infection'?. Is it the number of bacteria?
I seem to remember that your op was a revision and not a first replacement?
That being so they would have tried to remove any infected tissue, and some surgeons may also take culture samples when doing a revision hip replacement. I cannot comment on treatment as I am not medically qualified. However all micro labs have medically qualified consultant microbiologists who advise the surgical teams on treatment and sometimes take part in the ward rounds. I am sure the medical microbiologist at your hospital will comment and interpret the lab results
A further comment. Many body sites are sterile, many are not. Any bacteria in a normally sterile site constitutes an infection, even if that bacteria is benign in a non sterile site. Tissue should be sterile
Oh, right. I take that to mean it will need some sort of 'treatment ', which, according to what I can glean, would involve either a) removing the prosthesis, deep cleaning then putting it back or b) replacing it.
I am trying, really. However, my experience over the last 8 years of all this doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.
For instance, last surgeon failed to notice from X-rays over 3 years that the device had come completely loose.
That's why I've had this 3rd op on same hip.
Anyway, should know more soon. Busy compiling a list of questions, since was totally dumbstruck when I was told; went in expecting 'all clear: removal of all restrictions '.
Thanks. No news, 'fraid. No sign of call to tell me results of blood tests.
Rang consultant's secretary and explained. She said she'd send email to him and if he didn't contact me, she would.
I'm not holding my breath, as I've had several experiences where that hasn't happened. However, I'm not going to let it lie.
What made me feel really uncomfortable during the exchange was trying to explain how v difficult I found it to understand his colleague who raised this with me on Monday. Fact that I'm slightly hard of hearing didn't exactly help.
I'd be distraught if they construe this as my being racist. I'm far from that. But it's a fraught situation and there are only so many times you can apologise and ask for something to be repeated, before it behind to seem like rudeness.