How to avoid pneumococcal infection at 72 in a COPD male?

Question

Hi doctor,

My dad is 72 years old and has COPD. Last night, he started having a bad cough with greenish phlegm. I took him to the emergency room, and they said it was a pneumococcal infection. He is on antibiotics now, but still wheezing badly and feels super weak. I am worried because he had pneumonia before, and it took months for him to get back to normal. Can we use his nebulizer like usual, or does that make it worse? Also, does he need steroids for lung inflammation or just stick to the antibiotics? He has a follow-up in four days, but wanna make sure we are doing everything right till then. Also, does getting pneumococcal disease once mean he is immune now, or can he get it again? Should the rest of the family get vaccinated to protect him?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

You can use Asthalin nebulization as usual, but Budecort is a steroid, so bacterial infection is better avoided. It is better if you use only antibiotics in bacterial infection, but if there is associated inflammation, then your doctor will advise steroids. Pneumococcal infection is common in old age and immune-compromised patients, so to prevent repeated pneumococcal infection, get him vaccinated for pneumococcus. If your family members can maintain quarantine for a week, it is sufficient. Send his sputum for culture and sensitivity, and you will come to know what the organism is. Still have queries, please feel free to ask.

I hope this information will help you.

Thank you.