Discussions

Hello!  Are you preparing to get the flu vaccine?
The composition of flu vaccines changes every year, it gets updated based on needs scientists observe from the previous year. Flu vaccines for the 2026–2027 season are trivalent and protect against three influenza viruses: H1N1, H3N2 and a B/Victoria virus. 

A new option this season is mFLUSIVA, the first FDA-approved mRNA flu vaccine injection. It is approved for adults 50 to 64 and received accelerated approval for adults 65 and older.

People 65 years and older may also receive Fluzone High-Dose, Fluad or Flublok.  http//www.Drugs.com 

It is best to get your flu vaccine for early fall, or by mid October since the flu vaccine takes a few weeks to be fully effective. Let’s be proactive and protect ourselves. Let us know if you have any questions. 

🫁 RSV VACCINE: AN IMPORTANT LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR THE BNTM COMMUNITY

For individuals living with bronchiectasis and/or NTM lung disease, protecting your lungs from respiratory infections is of utmost importance.

The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for:
• Everyone age 75 and older
• Adults ages 50–74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV, including people with chronic lung disease.

🗓️ How often do you need it? RSV vaccination is NOT currently an annual vaccine.

The best time for eligible adults to get vaccinated is generally early fall, before RSV begins circulating widely.

❤️ Why does this matter for the BNTM community?

When you already have compromised or damaged airways, another respiratory infection can potentially put additional stress on your lungs. RSV vaccination can help reduce the risk of serious RSV disease.

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether the RSV vaccine is right for you.

Protect your lungs. Prevent what you can. 💙 https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/adults.html

Hello! Are you up to date with your Tdap vaccine? The multiple letters on some vaccines can be very confusing. Regarding the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines-adults generally receive Tdap, not the childhood DTaP vaccine.

💉 Tdap protects against three bacterial infections:

• Tetanus — can enter through cuts or wounds and cause severe muscle spasms.
• Diphtheria — can cause serious throat and breathing problems.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) — particularly important for people with underlying lung disease because a prolonged cough or respiratory infection can be especially difficult to manage.

How often do adults need it? According to CDC recommendations:

• One Tdap dose is recommended for adults who have never received Tdap.
• After that, adults should receive Td or Tdap every 10 years.
• Tdap can be used instead of Td for the 10-year booster. 

Preventing pertussis (whooping cough) is particularly relevant to people who already have compromised or damaged airways. A pertussis infection can cause weeks of severe coughing, which may be particularly disruptive for someone with bronchiectasis.

 Vaccination history and the recommended schedule are normally used to determine whether or not an adult needs Tdap. Please discuss your vaccination record with your healthcare provider rather than assuming you’re protected. Please let us know if you have any questions.

August is National Immunization Month. I thought I would review IMMUNOLOGY 101.

Ever wonder what actually happens inside your body after you get a vaccine? 💉

Think of your immune system as your body’s security team. Its job is to recognize things that don’t belong—such as bacteria and viruses—and respond to them. 
What does a vaccine do?

A vaccine gives your immune system a safe preview of a specific germ or part of it.

It essentially says: “Here’s what the enemy looks like. Learn it now, so you’re ready if you encounter it later.”

Your immune system responds by making antibodies and immune memory cells. If the real germ appears later, your immune system can recognize it and respond much faster.

When you already have chronic lung disease, avoiding additional respiratory infections can be particularly important.

Vaccines don’t prevent every respiratory infection but they can help protect against other vaccine-preventable infections that may cause serious respiratory illness or complications.

Your age, health conditions, previous vaccinations and medications can all affect which vaccines you need and when. 

Vaccination isn’t about making your immune system “stronger.” It’s about training your immune system to recognize a specific threat before you encounter the real thing.

And immunity isn’t always perfect. You can sometimes still become infected after vaccination—but vaccination can reduce the risk of serious illness.

Please ask your healthcare team to review your vaccination history and discuss which vaccines are appropriate for you.

Knowledge is part of your BNTM lung-health toolkit. 🫁💙 Do you have plans for your next vaccination? 

Have you received the pneumococcal vaccine? Why is this vaccine important?

People living with bronchiectasis have structural changes in their airways and are at increased risk for respiratory infections, including serious pneumococcal disease.

Pneumococcal vaccination helps protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections and meningitis.

💉 Which pneumococcal vaccine?

There are currently three pneumococcal conjugate vaccines:

• PCV15
• PCV20
• PCV21

There is also PPSV23.

The number refers to the number of pneumococcal serotypes covered by the vaccine. 

For an adult with chronic lung disease who has never received a pneumococcal vaccine, current CDC guidance generally provides these choices:

Option 1:
PCV20 — one dose

OR

PCV21 — one dose

OR

Option 2:
PCV15 → PPSV23
The PPSV23 is generally given at least 1 year later. In certain immunocompromising situations, the interval can be shortened to 8 weeks. 
I realize that all if these different numbers can be confusing… please let us know if you have any questions. 

SHINGLES VACCINE: ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR THE BNTM COMMUNITY 💙

If you’re living with Bronchiectasis and/or NTM lung disease, protecting your overall health is an important part of managing your respiratory health.

One vaccine worth talking to your healthcare provider about is the shingles (zoster) vaccine.

🦠 Why does shingles matter?
Shingles is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus that remains dormant in the body. It can cause a painful rash, nerve pain, and sometimes serious complications.
Why should the BNTM community care?People living with chronic lung disease may already have a lot on their plate. Preventing an additional illness—and the complications that can come with it—is one way to help protect your health and avoid unnecessary setbacks.

💉 Shingrix is the recommended shingles vaccine for adults 50 and older, and it may also be recommended for certain adults 19 and older who are immunocompromised. It is given as a 2-dose series.
Please speak with your doctor to find out if the shingles vaccine is appropriate for you, especially if you take medications that affect your immune system or have other health conditions.
Remember: Vaccines are not about treating BNTM—they’re about preventing additional illnesses that can make living with a chronic lung condition more challenging.

💙 Protect your lungs. Protect your health. Stay up to date on recommended vaccines. Please let us know if you have any specific questions. 

Hi,

Recently found out I have MAC again (successfully treated m.avium species 10 years ago) but now have intracellular species and seems to be macrolide resistant. I have been looking at some very negative outcomes online for this scenario and wondering is there is anyone else out these who is experiencing this and what to expect moving forward for treatment plan .

I have had colonized Pseudomonas for 2 years. Recently I took a strong dose of Levaquin (after having no antibiotics for the past 2 years) for pneumonia and the last sputum culture indicated no presence of Pseudomonas.

I fear a reoccurrence and am asking others to comment on this smart and persistent bacteria.

I have heart issues while on treatment. I'm considering stopping treatment. Anybody here just watching and keeping an eye on MAC with out treatment?

For the first time, my culture showed the presence of Pseudomonas. :-(

How do I weig the pros and cons of to attempt eradication?

The link below from the CDC offers detailed information on this subject: https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/reduce-your-risk-from-respiratory-viruses-this-holiday-season.html#cdc_generic_section_2-now-is-the-time-to-take-action

This is one term that is not frequently spoken about. Below is information on rhinoviruses from the CDC:https://www.cdc.gov/rhinoviruses/about/index.html

I was on 6 rounds of Steroids, including IV, for a severe mold allergy. Then diagnosed with MAC after.

Hi - I have had a history of bronchiectasis since 2005. The thing the doctors told me was to be careful if you catch a cold or flu as that can turn into pneumonia. Fast forward to fall of 2014, I had been having night sweats for years but now I felt like I was getting a fever all the time, that kind of light headed feeling, than the mucus increased. I went to the Dr. and was just told I have a bug, take some mucus meds. The low grade fever stayed, along with the extra mucus, back to the dr., this time some prednisone. The fevers went a bit higher and I started just sleeping a lot between coughing fits. Dr. number 3 gave me a script for some super cough meds and ceftin antibiotics. I demanded a chest X-ray due to wanting to make sure pneumonia was not setting in, Dr. said if you are not better in a week than we will X-ray, I told him no we need to do it now!. So I got the X-ray and yes I had pneumonia in both lungs. I was sent for some blood work which said I tested positive for mycoplasma pneumonia. The ceftin seemed to be helping and I started feeling better. Even the cough lessened. I was telling people I have coughed for 10 years and now it is like a bad memory, why hadn't I taken ceftin before this, it is like a miracle. 7 days after I finished the ceftin all the symptoms returned. This was repeated 5 more times when I said this is crazy and found the most amazing ID doctor. Her first ? is why are you here, I told her I was tired of being so sick.....she took my history did an exam ordered some test and said " I believe you have MAC" - followed up with pulmonary Dr., had bronchoscopy and that confirmed the NTM MAI - Than it was the wait for what meds. to take. I continued to take the ceftin until the big 3 were chosen. This all took from Nov. 2014 till May 13th 2015 - "1 year ago today" - I have had 2 neg cultures for MAI, one did show aspergillus which i am not being treated for as It is probably colonized and not causing any further problems. - During this year of treatment I did have an episode of coughing up blood, but for the fast action of my pulmonary Dr. within a week I had another bronchoscopy and a PICC line to treat a very bad pseudomonas infection. This has been a roller coaster of a ride with leaning how to cope with this physically and mentally. I am still learning.......

Norma

Is there something I can do to prevent infections and at the same time help me breathe better

I've heard many people refer to the term "MAC" when they talk about NTM. What is MAC? What's the difference between MAC and NTM?