Getting Strep infections while on an Antibiotic

[Rachel]

This is the second time this year that my son has had a strep infection while on an antibiotic. Is this normal? Since this year, he has also started testing positive on a rapid strep test. In the past, rapid streps always showed up negative. The first time this happened, he was on arzithromycin and this last time, he was on Bixan. He is on these antioboitics because of Mycoplasma P. Is my son going to have to go on a stronger antibiotic to get rid of the Mycoplasma P and to keep from getting a strep infection. My son does not go out in the public, he's home bound. So why is he catching strep. No one else is sick in the household. Just frustrated and need to understand why this might be happening.

[Missmom]

Have you all been tested even pets can be strep carriers? If no strep in the house I find it hard to understand how he keeps catching strep. Is the dose of abx that he is on considered a treatment dose for his weight or is he on prophylactic dose? After his last strep infection did you retest and get a negative test? If so I don't know unless the abx are not strong enough and are kind of bringing out the strep bacteria and allowing the test to indicate a positive result. You could also try a mucus buster such as mucinex for a few days in case the strep is hiding in biofilms. The mucinex may bust open the biofilms exposing the bacteria and allowing the antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria. Just throwing out some ideas.

[Rachel]

Thanks Missmom. I will try the mucinex. The abx prophylactic dose may not be at a high enough dosage. I will ask our doctor about this because I was wondering the same thing. Our cats have not been checked, so that will be my next step. I did take him back in the first time this happened in January. The strep culture was negative and he was also changed to a different abx prophylactic. My son is a kid in an adult size body. He is 5'10" and about 180. I will try the mucinex with him. Our cardiologist approves of this mediction for him. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Missmom]

Your welcome, I tried the mucinex about a year ago and used it with abx. I think it helped and my son has not had positive strep since(knocking on wood). Your son definitely needs an adult dose at that size, check with your doctor. I don't know if cats can get strep. I think it is more common in dogs but again ask the vet. Best of luck.

[tracy]

My son was a strep carrier for about 6 months when first diagnosed with PANDAs. We finally had to go to a disease control specialist who used a very strong antibiotic that had showed great success in removing the carrier status in children in europe. I forget the name of the antibiotic as this was 5 years ago but if this pattern continues get your child to a good disease control specialist. Also throw out all tooth brushes after a day on antibiotics - EVERYONE IN THE HOUSES tooth brushes!

[JakeTyler]

I just wanted to bump this topic. My son started to flare last week, but his PANDAS symptoms disappeared over the weekend. He still had a slight fever and sore throat today so we took him in and he tested positive for strep.

 

Does this indicate his prophalactic ABX aren't strong enough? Any advice on what to do going forward to prevent strep infections? He's on Augmentin once daily now.

[Rachel]

Hi Jaketyler,

 

I don't know what to tell you about the ABX. I would ask your doctor about this. My son had been on them for 4 months and caught strep twice. So I guess that was enough of a tip to his doctor to try something else. The doctor put my son on a shot of penicillin called Bicillin L-A every three weeks.

 

 

BTW Tracy I threw out the tooth brushes today. I had not thought of that but it makes sense.