PD Antibotic Kit

[Simon Dog]

My doc wrote an RX for antibiotics (2g Vanco and 1g Ceftaz) to be used in a bag if I get peritonitis.  The instructions were to call the PD nurse before doing anything, but if I'm on the road or I have a cloudy bag on a Sunday I can give myself the same initial treatment I would get in an ER, then start treatment at the clinic the next day (delivering them the cloudy bag for lab work, and starting the 2-3 week course of antibiotics).

[Joe]

My PD team gave me the antibiotics that I would need if I had a cloudy bag and couldn't get to them. The directions were to only use it if I had an issue and was out of town.

[smcd23]

We have a small stash of antibiotics for the PD bags (which they still haven't picked up yet... or their machine) We were told to save the cloudy bag (or in our case since we were using drain lines, a sample) and then call and get instructions on which antibiotics to administer and follow up with the clinic on the next business day.

When hubby got peritonitis he had his first does of meds in the ER, but they had him on all of them until they got the labs back on what bacteria it was and then they called and tapered the treatment to target that bacteria.

It must vary based on clinic and nurse. But we were always told to call and that we'd be doing the first dose/doses at home.

[billybags]

i think that is a brilliant idea. Saves time rushing about to get to the unit, which may or may not be working. I will have a word with my nurse. We have only just been allowed to inject heparin in our bags our selves   I feel like a nurse doing this. I love filling the syringe and holding it up to get the right amount in it. . lol

[Joe]

Really BB? I've been injecting my bags as needed since day one. Putting Heparin into a bag was one of the first things my PD nurse trained me on.

[bevvy5]

Great idea.  And if needles really turn your crank, there's always hemo - my dark attempt at humour this morning after a few tough needling sessions on hubby - AND him complaining this morning because he had to wake up so I could take him off Hal, his machine.

Actually a pretty good idea as it seems they give sort of a broad spectrum to start with anyway, then decide exactly what to give based on what comes back for analysis of the bag.  Hopefully prevents it from getting worse.

[Simon Dog]

The PD nurse told me she would have me come to the clinic and she would do the antibiotic dosing if it were open, and that I would get instructions to do it myself if it happened outside clinic hours.   I suspect this is because she figures doing it herself is the only way to be 100% sure it's done correctly.

The service from Fresenius has been excellent, however, I get the impression that the antibiotic kit was something available for the asking, but it would not have been offered if I didn't bring it up.

[Riki]

The antibiotics were given to us when we were training, and Mom was trained on how to mix them, because I can't see well enough to do it myself.  When I did get peritonitis, the nurses weren't allowed to give the first dose.  There's some regulation that says that they can't do it, it has to be done at home.  I'm not sure why that is.

[DaveP]

I keep Vancomycin on hand for those occasions. If your doctor won't give you some extra, find one who will.

[Simon Dog]

I keep Vancomycin on hand for those occasions. If your doctor won't give you some extra, find one who will.

My doc told me to use both Vanco and Ceftaz.