Another hand infection story....

[tleip]

I took down my 135g tank back in May, and in the process of lifting out the live rocks, one of those tiny calcium tube worms punctured my glove and the skin on my left thumb...I cleaned it out and disinfected, but a few days later is swelled up, and the doc prescribed some antibiotics, which worked...for a while, then the thumb is swelling come back, and my hand and my wrist...

Back to the doctor, more drugs, an X-ray, an MRI, a trip to the ER, more X-rays, another MRI, more tests, 2 nights in the hospital...and finally, they decide it's mycobacterium marinum (which I had suggested in the first place).

They have me on a pair of drugs for the next 30 days and I'll need liver function tests to be sure they aren't causing damage. Other than nausa and making body secreations orange, it's not too bad. My hand/ wrist is getting back to normal, but still hurts, but they told me I'm lucky that it wasn't worse. :^)

Bottom line, while I'm certainly not the first person to report catching a bug from their tank, it's a reminder that this can happen to anyone. I had gloves, but woefully inadequate and only covered my hands. I was certainly slack about promptly disinfecting my wound and I was pretty sloppy about washing them after getting in the tank. No more, I'm a convert now. :^)

Have fun,

Terry

 

[luther1200]

Glad to hear you'll be OK. Thats crazy.

 

[reidcrandall]

Wow! Glad to hear that you were able to get it on the right track. I think I will definately be wearing gloves from here on out. I hadn't really considered it to be a real issue worth considering until here recently. I guess I have been lucky for the past 7 or 8 years.

 

[fasteddie99]

Wow, glad to see your ok. I wonder what it was that poisoned you? I mean, was it the tube worm, or was it from a bacteria in the water? You may never know.

I have a few of those tiny tube worms in my tank and they are "pokey" for sure.

I just read a thread within the last month or so about a guys dog took a swallow of the water while he was doing maitinence and the dog died within like 24 hours or something. I *think* there were Zoo's in the tank as well.

Thanks for the heads up, its a great reminder for us who just say "eh, I'll be alright, I dont need gloves".

 

[tufacody]

Most people have no idea what a culture of tank water can produce - very scary stuff. People with immune deficiencies need to be very careful.

 

[Potsy]

I just scrubbed some of my live rock a few days ago and those pesky tube worms scraped my hands all over. And, I can't even count how many scrapes I've gotten from my hydnophora while rearranging and cleaning the glass. I'm just lucky I guess. I did wear thick, latex covered work gloves for the second round of scrubbing and that solved the problem.

 

[tleip]

I've been keeping salt water for more than 10 years, but never had an issue before this. If even 1 person avoids the same thing, I'll be happy.

...one of the downsides of the medication is that you can't drink alcohol, and we are going to an all-inclusive place in Cancun in 2 weeks - I guess it's virgin drinks for me. :^)

T

 

[Sea Polar]

Geesh! The last time I did a water change I swallowed a mouthful of tank water on accident from starting the siphon. Gross!

 

[LauraCline]

Definately be careful. I took a microbiology course last summer and the professor was telling us that they haven't even identified the majority of bacteria and viruses that naturally occur in the oceans.

 

[moonyguy]

Yup. I have had that happen to me on more than one occasion. Just have to be careful but even then it happens from time to time. Best thing is not to mess with the tank on a daily basis....Hope you feel better.

 

[Grassroots]

Glad to hear you are ok, I have cut myself many times in aquariums over the years and have never had that had happen to me (knocks on wood). I always clean a wound vigorously if I cut myself. Bummer about your trip lol. Glad you are gonna be ok, just shows that everyone needs to be careful while handling things in their aquariums from razorblades to clean the glass to picking up a rock.

 

[Hephalump]

Yeah you gotta be careful with your tanks for sure. I always wear gloves...I prefer nitrile because it tends to be thicker than latex. On a side note, I once accidentally swallowed tank water from a siphon right after dosing with flatworm exit, and my lips, fingers, and toes got numb. Be careful out there.

Glad to hear you're alright tleip, have a virgin bloody mary for me

 

[tleip]

Thanks -- FWIW, I'm on the high deductable insurance plan and the meds for the thirty days are only $300! Combined with the costs for the MRI, X-rays, ER, lab tests, hospital stay...I could have just given everything away for free and been money ahead.

Hindsight is so 20-20. :^)

Terry

 

[Reefer08]

Wow thats crazy. Glad to hear your going to be okay though. I guess ill start wearing gloves when I handle live rock?

 

[Aquafred]

Glad you're Ok. Infections can be quite tricky...

 

[sue711]

Holy smokes, glad you are on the mend.