Role Call!

KentuckyKate · May 2011

After the first spinal tap, they said he had meningitis. We waited the 48 hours for the cultures to come back from the lab, and they said it was negative for viral. This was yesterday. Today he had another spinal tap and they said they think he has viral meningitis and a staph infection. I don't really get it, to be honest. I don't understand how one minute it's viral, then it's not, then it is again.

mica178 · May 2011

If they didn't collect enough during the first tap, the results could have been inconclusive. I don't suppose you have the actual values for the taps and other tests?

Staph is fairly common, but most babies don't get multiple abscesses. What happened at Adam's birth? Was it traumatic?

Ciaram22 · May 2011

We are going to have to call the pediatrician in the morning. I think Edmunds belly button is infected

He doesn't have a fever but it is pussing and doesn't smell that great.

mica178 · May 2011

Also, there are only so many viruses that they can diagnose by most cultures. If the original tap showed values consistent with viral meningitis, it's probably viral meningitis, but they might not be able to know the exact virus that caused it. For most viral meningitis, treatment is supportive -- there aren't a ton of antivirals out there. Luckily, viral meningitis usually has a good prognosis. If Adam's hanging strong, that's a good sign.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

No, I don't have the values. I am just relaying what my brother tells my mom and my mom tells me as far as that's concerned, but I did see and feel the abscesses myself yesterday. I know that SIL had a textbook healthy pregnancy and labor, then during delivery they saw meconium stain. When he was born Adam's Apgar score was a 2, and they had to bring in a crash cart. He was admitted to the NICU because of meconium aspiration, but he has just gotten worse in the 11 days since he's been there.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_role-call-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:87b0c4d3-8e03-4bcc-929d-cc23d6cb45bePost:01d12bf9-754b-4fe7-9a3e-1997a0be49bd">Re: Role Call!</a>:
[QUOTE]We are going to have to call the pediatrician in the morning. I think Edmunds belly button is infected :( He doesn't have a fever but it is pussing and doesn't smell that great.
Posted by Ciaram22[/QUOTE]
Aww I'm sorry, Ciara. I hope Edmund is ok.

mica178 · May 2011

A lot of NICUs (and hospitals in general) have Staphylococcus colonizations, so I guess it's not too surprising that Adam's been exposed. Has anyone said anything about Ritter's Disease/Syndrome? It's basically Staph of the skin, treated with acetaminophen and antibiotics.

Ciaram22 · May 2011

He's been unusually fussy today. We cleaned it Monday and put a bandaid on it to help protect it and I pulled the bandaid off tonight and the whole pad was black.

Ciaram22 · May 2011

I'm so sorry KK. That little boy seems to be a fighter though.

mica178 · May 2011

It could be something as "simple" (I hate to call it simple, because of course to the loved ones of the sick baby, there's nothing simple about it) as meconium aspiration syndrome complicated by all of the pathogens that colonize hospitals (exposure to viruses for viral meningitis, exposure to S. aureus for the Staph abscesses). It's a great sign that Adam's hanging in there through all of this. The older he is, the stronger he'll be, and the better his body will be able to work with the medications to fight the infections. The poor thing, this is a lot to deal with in the first 10 days of life, but babies who get through it all tend to regain normal health.

I've got you and your family in my prayers.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

I haven't heard anything about Ritter's Syndrome, Mica, but then again, I am not the one's talking to the doctors and nurses. I'll ask my brother tomorrow if anyone's mentioned it.

mica178 · May 2011

Ciara -- swab that belly button with something gentle tonight if it still has a discharge. It's not a bad idea to take him into the pediatrician, though.

Ciaram22 · May 2011

I swabbed it with some rubbing alcohol and put another bandaid over it. I'm thinking I should go get some neosporin to put on it since I don't seem to have any here.

WildRumpus · May 2011

I'm just catching up, but KK, I am so sorry about little Adam. I can't even imagine what your poor family is going through. I've been keeping you in my prayers!

KentuckyKate · May 2011

Mica, you haz really good interwebz bedside manner! Seriously though, I feel like you're more empathetic and compassionate than most of the healthcare professionals we've talked to so far, and I really want to thank you. It's amazing. I talk on TK and to a friend who's a former NICU nurse in another city, and I feel much better than I do after talking to anyone at the hospital.

mica178 · May 2011

Ciara -- has Edmund's umbilical cord completely fallen off? If it's still coming off the pus might be normal.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

And Adam is as strong as an ox. He is 11 days old and is 8 lbs 13 oz, is breathing room air now, and nursing so well that he got his feeding tube removed yesterday.

Ciaram22 · May 2011

It fell off when he was 8 days old. So it has been 2 and a half weeks since.

mica178 · May 2011

Oh, Kate. I'm sorry that you're going through this. I wish I was there so I could beat up any mean doctors or nurses and get all the answers for you first hand.

When H was in the hospital with appendicitis, I had the chance to see healthcare from the other side. I was lucky in the sense that the surgeon knew I was a physician, so he wasn't totally condescending, but it's a totally different experience when you're scared and have a personal attachment to the patient.

Of course, I'd like to think that I'm nicer than the average doctor. I deal with dementia patients all day long -- there's a certain patience required to do that!

mica178 · May 2011

Those are all great signs, Kate.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

You're the best. And don't forget- I deal with dementia patients all day long too, so I completely understand the saint's patience it requires

KentuckyKate · May 2011

Here are some pictures from the hospital yesterday

KentuckyKate · May 2011

As you can see, he's very advanced in the hair department.

mica178 · May 2011

That's right! One of my patients was getting her bath, and the CNA ran outside to get a fresh gown for the patient. She told the patient "Stay put, don't get out of bed" before she left the room, but guess what happened? The patient broke her hip. The poor CNA -- it was not her fault, but she felt so guilty.

I absolutely told the DON and head nurse that I did not blame the CNA at all. (Not the least because I remembered about our patient falling on her face.)

Ciara -- the discharge is probably okay, but I'd still get it checked out. Warm soapy water works well for cleaning too.

mica178 · May 2011

OMG -- I love that froggy shirt!

KentuckyKate · May 2011

Yeah, the patient that fell under my watch? She's fallen 2 or 3 more times since then and has had to go to the hospital all three times. I feel really bad for her of course, but I do feel a little bit less guilty about it now. I've learned that if a patient has dementia and is ambulatory, he/she is most likely a fall risk. It's not like you can restrain them, and even though we have three alarms on this particular lady, if she decides to stand up, she will fall before anyone can get to her.

mica178 · May 2011

Okay, must go and pay attention to H. Good night, ladies.

KentuckyKate · May 2011

Goodnight Mica!

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