Another...your tank can be dangerous thread.

[3_high_low]

I think working on the aquraium is more risky than visiting a public rest room. Prolonged contact with water causes the skin lose some of it's protective properties, skin becomes softer and more vulnerable to sharp edges of rock, scabs of existing cuts become softened and are an easy entry point for pathogens. (This is not the case when we use a rest room.) I think we should use gloves when reaching into the aquarium whenever possible, and we should wash our hands afterwards. To me it's a no- brainer!

Proper hand washing after using public rest rooms, and covering cuts with a band-aid are good ideas too, of course. I won't get too carried away with hand washing technique, but once you have washed your hands you should be able to exit the rest room without touching anything but paper towels.

I don't mean to sound like an alarmist, the chances are slim that anyone will pick up an infection from their aquarium but it sucks when you do, so let's keep the odds in our favor as much as possible.

Oh ya. Don't forget to wear the seat belt in the car.

This has been a public service announcement

Hey, BigOrange, what is OP?

 

[pufferdude]

Man that suxs! Its better to be safe then sorry! Get some gloves........

 

[mps9506]

Proper hand washing after using public rest rooms,

I keep myself clean, I think it is more important to wash before I use the restroom than after :lmao:

 

[vapovick]

I keep myself clean, I think it is more important to wash before I use the restroom than after :lmao:

I could not agree more, door handles, and everthing else that someone touched is more dirty, and gross, than my hands, and I dont want to touch my 'stuff' without clean hands...

 

[basicreefer_conk]

I have been working in LFS's for years now. I have excema, and have big open sores in my fingers just about always. When I use steriod creams, the sores go away. I have my hands in saltwater constantly. Propagating zoanthids, drinking saltwater, you name it! I have delt with corals with vibrio with the open sores numerous times. I have held and touched just about every species of zoanthid there is with these open sores. Dug through sand beds after sand beds getting the livin crud stung out of me by bristleworms.
Just for the record--No problems.
But you guys do get me paraniod. I sure wish an expert could do some research on this and come up with a definate answer.

 

[Mr_Quality]

I sure wish an expert could do some research on this and come up with a definate answer.

There are medical papers published about aquarium related infections. The "expert research" exists if you care to look for them.

Bottom line, it's a probability thing. Some people do it once and get unlucky, while others do it hundreds of times without injury. You need to decide how careful/lucky you are.

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

clean is good !

 

[jimwat]

I could not agree more, door handles, and everthing else that someone touched is more dirty, and gross, than my hands, and I dont want to touch my 'stuff' without clean hands...

Did anyone hear about the University of Arizona study that shows that your work area (phone, keyboard, etc.) has 400 times more bacteria than an average toilet seat
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/19/1689_52067

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

NICE article thanks !!

 

[bluemonster]

what kinda lights is that finger under Halide or PC? Good colors!!

 

[SeanT]

The finger is under regular 60 watt GE home light bulbs.

 

[BiGOrange]

Bottom line, it's a probability thing. Some people do it once and get unlucky, while others do it hundreds of times without injury. You need to decide how careful/lucky you are.

As I said before, if you are going to go with that thinking, you need to wear gloves when you are taking a pee in the urinal. Also, every single time you pick up a phone, you better wear gloves too because I guarantee you that you have a better chance getting a bacterial or viral infection on a phone or door knob than a fish tank.

My point is simple. If you think you need to wear gloves in the tank, you better wear then when you open doors, type on keyboards, rent a car, use the bathroom, etc.

Otherwise your efforts are futile.

 

[SeanT]

BiGOrange,
Your remarks are extremely flawed.
Especially in the sense of longevity.
What if noone has touched that door knob in days?
Do you think the bacteria are still there?

In a nice warm, aerated, nourishment filled aquarium, organisms thrive continuously.

 

[rkplucker]

God Sean - I just discovered this thread! I'm glad you're doing better and thanks for the heads up. I used to wear gloves all the time but never do anymore. Just lazy I guess....

 

[Mr_Quality]

Trust me BigOrange ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I have a degree in clinical laboratory science and I manufacture diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. I am not exactly a layperson in these regards. Many people do pick up infections from inanimate objects (called fomites), usually flu-like or GI infections that resolve themselves with time. You donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t need to live your life with gloves on, but simple hand washing can go a long way to prevent illness. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m really glad you work in IT. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d hate to have you make me a meal after going to the bathroom without washing? Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d be nervous if you were a M.D.,for fear that youââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d examine me without washing after the really sick patient just before?

Your efforts are futile? Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a very simple probability game. Risk can be mitigated by certain prudent practices. The more times you ignore the risk, the greater the chance of experiencing a bad outcome.

 

[SeanT]

Thanks Kim.
Hey Kim...what tanks are you keeping running?

 

[Orm Embar]

Wow, glad you're doing better!

Medical comment - anytime you have red streaking from a (presumably) infected site, it is either lymphangitis or possibly cellulitis. Go to the ER immediately. Rocephin is one of many different antibiotics that we use.

Reef & Medicine comment - the exposure your standard MD gets with regard to marine wildlife toxins and microorganisms is next to zero (in family practice; infectious disease docs may get more but I doubt it). If you do have any kind of infection that may have some link to your saltwater tank, PLEASE tell your doctor. We may not necessarily know about Mycobacterium marinum or whether they came out with antidotes for blue ringed octopus venom off the tops of our heads, but I can tell you that without someone telling me that they were exposed to saltwater initially that it's a lot harder to piece the story together and treat people appropriately.

Handwashing comment - handwashing reduces infections. This dates back to Semmelweiss (unless I'm confusing him with another old doc) who first discovered this and reduced infections in an obstetrics ward. If you don't believe me, check out the Center for Disease Control's website (www.cdc.gov) and search for "handwashing." Even if all you do is reduce the numbers of bacteria, it works.

Have to admit, I will probably not use gloves, but I always wash my hands after putting them in my tank.

 

[BiGOrange]

Trust me BigOrange ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I have a degree in clinical laboratory You donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t need to live your life with gloves on

Thank you for making my point for me. You da man!

 

[SeanT]

Thank you for making my point for me. You da man!

 

[thedude]

All the talking about "washing your hands" would really get my advanced bio teacher on a good rant. We used to get a daily lecture that soaps, mouthwashes, etc. really did very little to kill many bacteria. He would say that the soaps, etc. didn't contain the chemicals to kill what they said they did. He would go on about how many bacteria survive boiling, and other extremes.

This was a few years before the anti-bacterial soaps, so he had a good point. Most probably left your hands from being rinsed off.

Good ole Bugsy Trostle, man did this stuff get him stirred.