klebsiella infection - can I dive?

[ksh]

Hi,

Hoping for a doctor to shed some light here - I'm leaving for a liveaboard trip on Saturday; today (Thu) doctor called me to say that my urine analysis showed I have klebsiella infection. She put me on cipro 500mg x 10 days and said being in cold water will be bad for me. I have no symptoms - the reason I went to her yesterday was I woke up with a fever of 100 dg and thought I was getting a flu. No fever today, no problems at all. Is it true that I shouldn't be diving?

PLEASE, help!
Kathy

 

[crispos]

http://www.personalmd.com/news/klebsiella_102299.shtml

Kathy, relax. The MDs will be here any minute.

 

[DandyDon]

You can also call DAN medics tomorrow. Number is on your card, which I presume you have handy...

 

[DocVikingo]

Tough position to be in, eh?

Apparently your physician thinks that it may not be wise. I presume that you trust her since you went to her for treatment. BTW, it is somewhat unusual for an otherwise healthy young person to develop such an infection. If you have another condition(s) that may adversely impact upon safe scuba this would have to be considered as well.

It is good that you are without symptoms since starting an antibiotic, but a Klebsiella infection needs to be regarded with respect. You don't want to be on a liveaboard if it gets out of control. It will mean a delay in treatment and if you must be brought ashore possible damage to others' vacations.

You may wish to check once again with your physician, or with an infectious diseases specialist, before making a final decision.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo

 

[ksh]

Thanks, Doc. And yeah, it's tough.. I'm just trying to weigh the risks now - I mean, if the likely outcome of me diving in a day is that I'll have this condition for a week longer / be discomfortable, etc - I'll go. But if the most likely is that I'll need hospital treatment - forget about it. Could you - hypotetically, of course - say what are the most probable complications? What to watch for if I go? (I'm otherwise healthy, but was under huge stress - both physical and mental - last couple weeks. I guess, that's why it happened)

K