Protecting yourself: Infection prevention with Cushing's disease

For individuals managing Cushing's disease, understanding and practicing infection prevention is a critical step in maintaining your health. Learn how to protect yourself and why these measures are so important.

Why infection prevention matters for you

Preventing infection is essential when living with Cushing’s disease.

  1. Excessive cortisol has an immunosuppressant-like effect on the body. This means your body isn’t as good at fighting off infections. 
  2. Patients with Cushing’s have lower CD4+ T-cells, which are vital for fighting infection
  3. Excess cortisol causes body wide, low-grade inflammation similar to patients with obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes
  4. Hypercortisolism can also mask the symptoms of illnesses, causing infection to go untreated for longer in a compromised body.

So what?!

Treated and untreated Cushing’s disease causes an increase in opportunistic infections!! These are infections that are usually kept at bay by our immune system.

Without proper self-management and care the risk of infection increases drastically and can cause further damage and severe illness.

Self Management

  • Keep any eye on subtle signs of infection such as malaise, unusual weakness or fatigue, or low grade fever 
  • Contact your provider if you are experiencing a high-grade fever with general flu-like symptoms
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Limit contact  with people who are sick
  • Stay up to date on vaccinations
  • Reduce sugar and sodium intake in the diet to promote healing
  • Maintain good oral hygiene as respiratory infections can become severe

Preventing Skin Infections

  • Cushing's disease causes fragile skin where infections can enter the body so it is essential to
    • Perform skin checks daily
    • Frequently reposition and promote general circulation to all parts of the body 
    • Monitor for swelling, heat, redness, tenderness, and yellow or white drainage from wounds or cuts on the skin

How can a nurse help?

It is important to collaborate with your entire health team to make sure everyone stays on top of infection. Nurses should be promoting and performing: 

  1. Skin assessments
  2. Monitoring vital signs for signs of infection 
  3. Maintaining patients blood sugar levels
  4. Monitoring WBC count 
  5. Practicing strict hand washing/ placing precautions if necessary 
  6. Encourage excellent oral hygiene
  7. Educate on signs of masked infections 
  8. Continue with proper wound management
  9. Practice aseptic technique with all wound care and invasive procedures

If you need help with any of these things, ask your nurse at your next visit!

Knowledge Checkpoint

1. What should you do if you become tired, weak, and have a low-grade fever with a red, swollen spot on your toe that hurts? 

 

2. Why is it essential to keep an eye on your skin when living with Cushing’s disease?

 

3. What are 2 key self-management strategies that will reduce the chance of infection?