Medical Question

14 years ago

My friends sister has MS and is in a nursing home. She is totally bed-bound. She has a catheter and wears diapers. She's been sick and pretty much out of it for a few days now. Figured she had yet another UTI...bt my friend found out today that she has E.Coli!!!!! Of course, my friend wanted to know how she'd got it and was told "it could be because she p@@ps in a diaper! Is this possible?

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Comments (14)

cathyid
14 years ago
Yes, it is possible. E coli are part of the intestinal tract bacteria. There are many kinds.
country_bumpkin_al
Original Author
14 years ago
Well...learn something new every day! I've only heard about the kind from tainted food! Thanks
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sleeperblues
14 years ago
The e.coli on the tainted food has nothing to do with the food. Rather it is from the manure that is put into the soil. If you don't wash well enough, you are ingesting e.coli from the manure.

In the sister's case, some stool probably got on either her hand or a caregiver's hand/glove and got into her bloodstream that way (via the mouth, mucus membrane, or open sore). Sorry she is so sick.
ruthieg__tx
14 years ago
Sorry CB about your sister..not a good thing.
country_bumpkin_al
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks! Ruthie...this isn't MY sister...but ths sister of a friend! Bless her heart...she's already out lived the time they gave her by 10-12 years!
bee0hio
14 years ago
Agree that the E.coli in this situation is different than that which typically cause food borne infections that make the news.

In the sister's case, some stool probably got on either her hand or a caregiver's hand/glove and got into her bloodstream that way (via the mouth, mucus membrane, or open sore).

Respectfully disagree with this as likely "probability". E.coli is a normal flora (bacteria) in everyone's intestinal tract. It is probably the most common organism causing UTI's. This is because of the close proximity of the urinary opening to the anus. When a person has a Foley catheter this tube is a conduit for bacteria lurking in the perineal area to migrate up the catheter, into & infecting the bladder. The problem is compounded with the adult diapers which hold the stool in warm, moist, dark environment (perfect growing conditions) close to the urinary opening &/or catheter. If the UTI/bladder infection goes undetected for a few days, then it can lead to a blood stream infection (sepsis). I believe, iirc, E.coli UTI is also the most common source for blood stream infection. However, there are other precursors for blood stream infections, i.e. pneumonia, wounds, abscesses, contaminated needles, to name a few. And of course, there are other organisms besides E.Coli that cause UTI or sepsis.

As an aside...
Women who suffer from repeated UTI's should be instructed that after using the bathroom they should wipe front to back (rather than the reverse) because it's likely she is dragging fecal contaminants toward her urinary meatus.

I know.... probably more than you wanted to know... LOL
heather_on
14 years ago
You are right Bee.
dotmom
14 years ago
When I was in the hosp in 2002 for infection in 3 disks. I couldn't walk and was bed bound because of the pain, and they were trying to treat the infection with strong anti-biotics. (another story...those made me loony and i saw people who were not there and heard things) I had a catheter and all of a sudden I was so sick, they rushed me into a different room and people coming in had to wear hazmat clothes. I remember this, but was too out of it to ask any questions. I found out later I had E Coli.I had been bed bound for over 3 months and after the surgery to remove the discs, it was hard to get my strength and able to walk again.
wanda_va
14 years ago
Bee, that probably was more information than anyone wanted to know...but you did a public service by providing the information, because people need to know! Thank you!
susanjf_gw
14 years ago
hosp's and nursing homes are a hotbed of germs! 2 years ago when dgs was born, they wern't allowing visitors on the maturnity floor for several days...
Jasdip
14 years ago
People can get real sick in hospitals. There are super-germs in local hospitals often. When we were visiting Mom, we had to wear gowns and gloves, and whatever came into her room couldn't leave. When the kitchen would put Ensures and Gatorades etc in her room, even though they were unopened, if she didn't drink them they had to be thrown out.
country_bumpkin_al
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for that information,Bee! I'm actually going to copy it and email it to my friend. I'm not sure if it matters, but my friends sister does not have a regular catheter. She is so prone to UTI's that they removed the kind she had, and surgically put in what they called a "pubic catheter"(directly into her belly/bladder).Regardles of the reason she has E.Coli...she's a very sick woman.

Thanks again,Bee!!! :)
tami_ohio
14 years ago
Will keep her in my thoughts.

Also, I've been wondering how your grandson is doing after his football injury. Please keep us updated on both of them!

Tami
Jasdip
14 years ago
I'm so glad to hear from you Bump. You haven't been here in a while and I am wondering if it's because of your grandson.

((Brenda))

I'm sure you can add to the Pet's Quirks thread with your little munchkins.

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