Kurt, do you remember a year or so ago when a request from China for help in 
diagnosing a woman who was dying successfully brought aid from the world 
medical community?  Here is another request.  I don't know how to post it to 
the other medical lists as this list is no longer connected to them but seems 
to be rather parochial.  Would you please look at it and at your discretion 
re-post it where it can do some good?  Thanks!
 
From: Madeleine Nash
To: ProMED@usa.healthnet.org
Subject:  PROMED> Serratia infection, treatment:  request for
information
Date: Monday, September 09, 1996 11:32AM
 
SERRATIA INFECTION, TREATMENT: RFI
==================================
 
A request for information from a 75 year old man with an artificial
hip, who says he just wants to die:  The reason is that he has been
diagnosed with an infection (probably _Serratia_, though no one has
succeeded in making a culture) that just won't go away.  He can't have
the artificial hip removed and replaced because that would be the third
such replacement.  So he can 1.  have the artificial hip removed and be
confined to a wheelchair or 2.  live with the infection, which
apparently erupts frequently causing pain and bleeding.  Docs say that
they can beat back the infection by treating it daily for 30 days with
antibiotics administered through an IV.  But they expect that the
symptom free interval will last for only 60 or so days, at which point
he can repeat the 30-day treatment.  Are there any new treatments for
_Serratia_ infections that might do a better job?  Please send
comments, suggestions to me.
 
 --
Madeleine Nash
e-mail: 
 
[I did not know what to do with this, i.e., whether to post or not, but
the last thing I would want is for someone to continue being desperate
on my account.  Do any of our readers have information on treatment of
persistent infections with _Serratia_ sp?  Does anyone have a
suggestion for the attending physician(s)?  Mod.]
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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