p.aeruginosa found

The culture from the fluid draw they did the other day (paracentesis is what it's called) showed nothing of concern so far (let's hope it stays that way). But the swab that the ObGyn did showed growth of the p. aeruginosa bacteria. The "p" stands for "pseudomonas." The "p" also stands for "pretty darn resistant to antibiotics." Apparently there's currently only one antibiotic (Primaxin) that can lick this bacteria, so they'll try that. I just now looked it up and saw that it's got Imipenem as a component. I remember that name because I already joked in an earlier post that Denise likes Stan Getz doing "Girl from Ipanema" and Denise had become the "Girl on Imipenem." Why it was apparently tried before and we still have this infection to deal with, I don't understand. Then again, I don't understand most of the work they do in the CCU. By the way, television E.R. has nothing on the CCU.
I'm waiting to get more info on the SPT (mentioned Thursday August 9) that we may be dealing with as well.
Fevers tickled 104 again last night (hadn't gotten that high in a couple days), and were down around 99 by the time I left earlier this afternoon.
Blood workup is still not great, but stable. My understanding is that additional transfusions could be counterproductive to fighting the infection(s). So they're giving Denise iron instead of red cells to help with the oxygenation.
They also stopped the SoluMedrol steroid drip. Apparently it works against one of the antibiotics. Since the steroid was primarily given to reduce inflammation in the lung to improve oxygenation, and the new ventilator is taking up that slack in accomplishing that end, they felt it was the wisest move to discontinue the steroid for now. That'll give the meds the best chances to hammer the infections.
The Tygacil was also stopped, as it apparently doesn't combat what was anticipated to be the problem.

Denise's overnight nurse went to Pasadena Christian School from kindergarten through 8th grade, graduating in the year that I started teaching there (1994-1995). All the old PCS teachers reading this can be proud of Michelle Gower. She took real good care of my wife.

Yesterday, Denise was waking up again, and I was reading all of the emails to her that were received that day. One of them was from one of Denise's friends. The email described a dream in which our friend saw Denise well and happy. I read that aloud and then related a dream I had a few weeks ago in which I was a kid, walking down the school hallway, and everyone was laughing and pointing at me. When I sat down in my desk and got my books out, I realized that I had forgotten to put on all my clothes and was only wearing my underpants. Denise opened her eyelids, rolled her eyes, and shook her head a little. Without moving her lips, she said, "Honey, you're a buffoon." For this, I was happy.
Needless to say, I hope that our friend's dream comes to pass, and mine does not.

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