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My mom is in a memory care center...with Alzheimer's and she was just told that she got e coli chronic bacteria....can anyone tell me how serious is this...she is in pain with burning and pain...doctor tole me that there is nothing more he can do for her..I am not giving up that easy..what should or can I do...thanks

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Motherof5, what is he suggesting that you do? I think you need to ask him a very direct question about this. Is he saying that mom is dying? Sometimes doctors skirt around saying that, but it's time to ask. And if the answer is yes, time to call Hospice, I would think. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
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Do you mean that she has a UTI that they have determined is E. Coli based? Are they treating this with antibiotics? Please ask the doctor if by "nothing they can do about this" s/he is suggesting that Hospice be called.
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E Coli is a pretty common UTI bug, it is normally in poop and especially for ladies it is easy to get bladder infections with it. If someone has taken loads and loads of antibiotics, it can become pretty resistant. If it is growing in a Foley or other indwelling catheter, it may be one of the better bugs to grow in there and giving antibiotics to kill it off may be unhelpful as something resistant to that will develop instead.

You can try giving lots and lots of fluids, cranberry juice or anything else with mannose in it, and there is a urinary anesthetic called pyridium they could try to make her more comfortable.
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E. Coli is a bacterium that is found in feces, both human and animal. It may be that this bacteria that she has is resistent to antibiotics. Is this the doctor at the assisted living facility? If so, I think you have two choices. You opt for more aggressive treatment by getting her to a hospital via ambulance or you opt for comfort care (painkillers and no treatment of the infection) by calling Hospice. I'm so sorry that your mom is in pain. If nothing else, RIGHT NOW, she should be on painkillers to ease that so that you can evaluate the situation.
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If your mom is in pain, get her some relief sooner than that. I would call and talk to the doctor on the phone; perhaps without your mom present at first would be easier for you both. Good luck!
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I absolutely agree with Babalou. If she is in pain with burning I would be making immediate arrangements to get her to the hospital and not waiting until Friday. If that is not feasible a call right into the doctor to get more information as to what exactly is going on and find out why he says there is nothing more he can do for her.
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An e-coli based infection that is resistant to antibiotics is a form of MRSA. MRSA get launched in hospitals and nursing homes that do not follow infection control procedures and policies. Period. If you keep patient care areas clean, patients do not get these kinds of infections. I was a hospital administrator for many years, so I know it's poor infection control, and not drug resistance, that causes these infections.
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motherof5, if you mother has poor healing and a poor immune system and repeated UTI's and repeated doses of antibiotics that don't help, there is more going on than just dementia. ASK the MD about a topical silver gel, such as Curad Silver Solution. Silver does fight infection. When you were a baby you may have gotten silver nitrate drops in your eyes at birth.
Has the MD mentioned Hospice? Has he indicated that liver or kidneys are starting to fail? Make a list of questions and take it with you, because we often forget what we wanted to ask.
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motherof5, a nasal sample for a flu test would only test for the type of flu.
MRSA means "Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus." Now staphylococcus epidermis is normally present on everybody's skin, a normal part of body flora. And E.coli and clostridium are a normal part of fecal bacteria. When you take too many antibiotics, you wipe out these protective bacterias and the bad guys move in, like MRSA and C-Diff.
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And no, Zoo... MRSA is a different bug altogether. It is methicillin resistant staph aureus, and many that grow in the community are sensitive to Bactrim and/or clindamycin.

Actually neither bug is prima facie evidence of totally bad care. Granted, they can be spread by poor handwashing and precautions should be taken to avoid spread from patient to patient.
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