I usually get at least one cold each winter, and fairly often it segues into a secondary bacterial infection. Recently I’ve been told I have cyclic neutropenia, and have had neutrophil counts below 500 several times this year, so I’m more interested than ever in preventing those secondary infections. Would it be worthwhile to try an ethanol-based nasal decolonization product like Nozin when I have a cold or other viral infection?
Are these secondary bacterial infections always proven/confirmed through microbiological testing? Or are they more “presumed” based on the collection and trajectory of symptoms?
I am not aware of any evidence for nasal decolonization in the context of cyclic neutropenia, nor do I have experience using that particular product (I typically use intranasal mupirocin for decolonization). Regardless, while I do not know how efficacious this would be for preventing future infections, I think the risk of trying something like this is very low, so any potential benefit would be a win.
Thanks for the speedy reply, Austin. The secondary infections are almost always presumed; sometimes there’s a really quick turnaround if I start antibiotics, but of course that doesn’t establish causality. Anyway, I’m going to try Nozin at the next opportunity.
By the way, I’ve tried oral ethanol-based remedies on many occasions, but the benefit seems to be only temporary.