G-tube infections

Tammi - posted on 04/13/2013

Khammala, I would suggest that you go to the pediatrician immediately. My daughter's doctors (she has many) advise that whenever you are in doubt or concerned, take the time and go see your doctor/pediatrician. It might be a wasted trip, but more often than not your mom instincts are right.

Tammi - posted on 04/13/2013

My daughter is 6 and has had her G-tube for three years. This morning I noticed it was red, warm, and slightly swollen all around it. I immediately took her to the doctor because she is a MRSA carrier and I just didn't want to take any chances. Her pediatrician was pleased that I caught it early. She said that any time the skin around the G-tube looks this way that we should get her to the doctor so they can prescribe antibiotics. She put her on oral Bactrim and also prescribed Bactroban ointment to apply directly on affected area. I just want to tell all you moms not to take it lightly if you see changes around the G-tube. I know many home treatments may help, but it's not worth your child's life, as these seemingly small infections can turn into other serious infections such as a blood infections. Her doctor also had me draw a circle around the red, inflamed area with a sharpie so I can monitor if the infection is spreading, which would mean her body is not responding to the antibiotics. I also notice that many moms apply gauze or a dressing to the G-tube; our surgeon feels this is a big 'no-no' as the skin needs to breath and dressings can actually cause infections. I know my daughter first had a Bard button and it leaked constantly, therefore her preschool insisted we cover it with gauze. I did what they asked and as soon as she got home from school, I removed the dressing. She now has an AMT-mini button and we have seen very minimal leakage. I'm much happier with the new button. Just wanted to leave a few words of advise and encouragement. I know we all love our babies so much!

Amanda - posted on 04/09/2013

I used to have frequent problems with my daughters g tube but I now use Mesalt and Biatain dressings. The Mesalt is gauze with salts in it and the Biatain is a thin sponge. I clean daily with baby soap and alcohol wipes, then use a Cavillon wipe to protect her skin as her tube still leaks. You can also use a zinc cream or petroleum jelly on the skin around the tube. Keep it clean and dry and you shouldn't have any more problems. Whenever I see a lot of leakage or that the dressing is moist I just change them and it stays infection and granuation free. If you can get the Mesalt or a calcium gauze and put it around the tube with the sponge over it that should help.

Khammala - posted on 04/07/2013

My daughter is about to be 2 years old on may 21 next month ,she had her gtube placed last year during the summer.well anyways so I had changed her gtube by myself at night wen she was asleep ,because the surgery clinic told me to change it eberu four month . but the next day she started to cry so much and ever since from that night i changed it she started to fuss every night and cries / touches her stomach . I don't know if its infected or anything . I really need help any suggestion ? How do i know if its infected ?????

Jennie - posted on 03/01/2010

My son is almost 4 and has had a gtube since he was 3 months old. He has had it infected many times. There was a period of a year where it was infected almost every month. I use to put gauze around it but stopped doing that about two years ago. When I stopped the gauze it actually got better, I know weird. Anyway, our doctor recommends that it's changed once a year and sometimes when it's looking bad we will use deluted hydronproxide around it with a q-tip. I would def ask the dr about some creme we have also used bactroban and it works. We haven't used anything but soap and water once a day everyday for the last year and no problems.

Lynn - posted on 02/28/2010

My daughter had a g-tube for about 3 months right after her traumatic brain injury. While we were in the rehab center one of the nurses there noticed that the area around her tube was red, sore and ozing. She suggested to me (unoffically) to use a cotton ball soaked in liquid Mylanta around that area after cleaning it and to bandage it afterwards. I did this about three times a day and no more soreness. Some stomach acids were leaking around that area causing all the trouble and pain. The Mylanta helped to nutralize the acid that was bothering the surrounding skin. This is not a medical treatment, but I know that it helped my little girl alot.

Angie - posted on 02/19/2010

my daugter has her g-tube since she was 6 months old and she is now 3, we have never had an infection. we give her a bath every night or every other with baby soap and wash her like normal, then we dry her and put this skin protectant on called Pro Shield Plus with a q-tip around the area where the button goes in (this keeps the gauze and the button from irritating the skin and making it itch or become infected) and then put gauze around the button up underneath and tape the gauze together but not to the skin. the button still is able to move in a circular motion, but the skin is never red, irritated, or anything. we have only had to have the granulation tissue treated one time with the silver nitrate and that was when they first put the button in. she has never had the build up of scar tissue or any type of infection or really any redness or anything since that one time when they first put the button in. the proshield plus is something that you can get prescribed by your ped dr so you dont have to see the surgeon everytime you need to get it refilled. ask your dr about it and see what he thinks.

Amy - posted on 02/19/2010

my son is 18 months and has had his g-tube since he was 7 days old. We never clean it. I change the dressing once a day and treat any granuation tissue with silver nitrate. He has had only 1 infection. I was not told to clean it and he is happier when i dont mess with it. Are you anchoring the dressing to eep the tube from spinning? Sometimes the spinning of the tube can irritate the tissue and allow it to become open and collect bacteria. As far as using soap and water, dry is always better thatn wet for skin breakdown. This may sound strange but you may be doing too much. Make sure it is clean and dry and that the tube can't spin and just leave it for a few days. You may be surprized.

Kelly - posted on 02/18/2010

When my son's tube was first placed his got infected as well. We used Nystatin. I clean the site twice a day with half strength peroxide and he hasn't had a problem since. Hope this helps.

Courtney - posted on 02/18/2010

we have been super lucky with our son's GT site...the only time he did have an issue we switched to a "mini" mic-key which is silicone. no problems since. Might be worth looking into for her next mic change.

Iridescent - posted on 02/18/2010

We got a lot of bacterial and yeast infections in the first year. We were prescribed an ointment (Nystatin/Bactroban Cream, compounded by the pharmacist) that we put on it any time it appeared infected. It works wonders! Once you know what each thing is that you see, you'll know how to treat it better. When it's moist and yeast, we put Nystatin powder on. If it's dry and yeast or red, the cream. Otherwise, nothing. Not even gauze (as those harbor infections even though they soak up drainage). When she first got her tube going without gauze was not an option as it leaked so much, but it does go down, and as it does, back off on using it. We also just clean it with a Huggies Naturals (alcohol free) diaper wipe twice a day. Also, if the site is just dry and not infected, put vaseline on it.

Jessica - posted on 02/18/2010

Its not your fault she gets infections. Sometimes those infections just happen, I wouldn't wash it any more than that because then the sight could get dry and irritated making it even more likely to get infected. Ask her specialist about using a daily ointment or creme. My son went through a period like that also, he had cellulitis 3 times and a pustule they discovered was from a sinus tract (not sure how that is spelled) in the space of 2 months. We began using bactroban on his site any time it started getting red and haven't had a problem since.