Infection from Live Rock - Personal Experience

[HeavyWater]

I was released from the hospital last week and put on oral antibiotics. While I am still dealing with the infection, I am continuing to heal and feel better.

I have been following up with the infectious disease doctor every few days and he has been pleased with my progress. The swelling has gone done a good bit, and the pain is pretty much gone. One big improvement is that the tissue in the surrounding scratch has begun to soften... it was hard as a rock while in the hospital (I am told that this is a VERY good sign). I am probably going to be on antibiotic treatment for a total of 4 weeks, but things are going in the right direction. I am ready for this to be over!

Day 6



Day 9



Day 12

 

[LuchoTocado]

Wow, it is incredible that a simple scratch can do that

 

[MBC2012]

OH may. This is crazy.
I have been reading that people are using cipro to treat anemones and that it very worryness for me. Ciprofloxacin is the only antibiotic that I am not allegoric to. I have a fear that tanks will stop responding to this drug and I will be in world of hurt if I get an infection.....
What drugs did they use?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sorry you're dealing with this. Sharing your story will help others, thanks for that.

 

[dkeller_nc]

OH may. This is crazy.
I have been reading that people are using cipro to treat anemones and that it very worryness for me. Ciprofloxacin is the only antibiotic that I am not allegoric to. I have a fear that tanks will stop responding to this drug and I will be in world of hurt if I get an infection.....
What drugs did they use?

It's likely that there are some other antibiotics that you aren't allergic to, they're just not in common usage (i.e., you don't typically get prescribed those drugs from a general practitioner). Nevertheless, as long as you're not using ciprofloxacin to treat your own tank, the likelihood of a cipro resistant strain of bacteria existing in your reef is very low.

 

[MBC2012]

DKeller_NC - good to know.
It's interesting that growing up my parents always said - go swimming the salt water will hurt that !! Even wc can't replace the cures of real ocean water

 

[MBC2012]

Heavy Water - so glad that you are on the mends....must have been very scary

 

[Seakrait]

Even if you place your hand or arm in the tank for 2 seconds, wash them really good after. The rock itself doesn't have to scratch you as these bacteria are in the water column. You could have a scratch you received from something else get infected simply by being in the water. How many times do we dry our arm off with a towel and get pulled away by a family member for some other task before we wash our hands and arms? Glad you are ok man! This may seems like a safe hobby to non aquarists. They don't realize that adrenaline junkies have nothing on us. We deal with electricity and salt water to the extent of blow drying our hair in the bath tub is less risky, highly alkaline chemicals that can melt your face, and beloved pets that can give us a shot of painful venom, burn our eyes out with toxins, or remove a finger with their razor sharp choppers. I would give an account of the dangerous bacteria we breed in glass boxes, but the op stole my thunder on that. Praying for a speedy for you bud.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Wrote I may go looking for some elbow gloves

 

[Cashda]

Thanks for sharing, glad it's healing and your feeling better

 

[liverock]

I was released from the hospital last week and put on oral antibiotics. While I am still dealing with the infection, I am continuing to heal and feel better.

I have been following up with the infectious disease doctor every few days and he has been pleased with my progress. The swelling has gone done a good bit, and the pain is pretty much gone. One big improvement is that the tissue in the surrounding scratch has begun to soften... it was hard as a rock while in the hospital (I am told that this is a VERY good sign). I am probably going to be on antibiotic treatment for a total of 4 weeks, but things are going in the right direction. I am ready for this to be over!

Day 6



Day 9



Day 12

On the flip side of this......I have been diving and handling live rock for well over thirty years...I get cut almost every trip when I am harvesting live rock from the aquaculture site.

I do were garden gloves, when diving and picking up the rock, but invariably am always cut by a clam shell, sharp edge, or poked by long spine sea urchins on every dive. And then unloading the rock off the boat into my holding systems, more opportunity for injuries.

Am lucky as have never had any reaction anything close to yours, usually worse case scenario is those dad gum black long spine urchins, once you get a good jab and they break off in your hand they are near impossible to get out without some near surgery that hurts more than the spine it's self. I have carried around little black spots on my fingers for months and months, until they eventually work them selves out.

I think the infections folks get are from the corals and pallys and other inhabitants of our tanks that invade an injury caused by a scrape. If live rock was the cause of symptoms like yours, I am pretty sure I would be armless and legless.

Nice to see you recovering so well, that was some seriously nasty and scary looking stuff!!

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com
www.itzalodge.com

 

[HeavyWater]

OH may. This is crazy.
I have been reading that people are using cipro to treat anemones and that it very worryness for me. Ciprofloxacin is the only antibiotic that I am not allegoric to. I have a fear that tanks will stop responding to this drug and I will be in world of hurt if I get an infection.....
What drugs did they use?

I am taking oral Doxycycline and Levofloxacin.

When I was in the hospital, I was given a 3rd antibiotic via IV, but I cannot remember what that one was called.

 

[MBC2012]

whatever they gave you I am glad it worked.

 

[HeavyWater]

Given my recent ordeal, I have decided to shut down the tank till I am completely recovered. I have given my livestock to friends, and all remaining coral colonies have gone to good homes while I am getting back on my feet. I will never quit this hobby, however, I am going to need some assurances that this type of infection will not happen again. I plan on re-booting the tank next month and would like some ideas on how to completely kill live rock/ bacteria.

I drained my tank a couple of weeks ago and now the live rock is completely out of water (12 days dry so far). While I would like to take the rock out and give it a peroxide bath, the piece is just too heavy... I have a boulder that is 130 lbs, and it is just not feasible to take it out of the tank.

I have considered filling the tank with fresh water from the hose and then draining it once again before re-starting the system. Tap water contains both chlorine and fluoride... surely this would kill any remaining salt water bacteria?

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

 

[James77]

You could dive into a pool of purell after every single encounter with the tank....

In seriousness though, I am not sure you could ever have a sterile tank. Between adding livestock and food, plus the nature of bacteria...the threat will always be there. I would look more at steps to protect your skin and thoroughly wash all exposed skin...especially any cuts....after doing tank work. You are going from getting scratches and cuts an thinking nothing of them to attempting to kill all bacteria. Not saying it is an over reactions...I would probably do the same after going through what you have, but I think there is a safe, happy middle ground somewhere in there

 

[HeavyWater]

I am continuing to improve! After 3 weeks, my arm continues to heal and I am off of oral antibiotics. The doctors want me to keep a close eye on things to ensure that the infection does not return/ flare up, so I am still taking it easy.
The only medicine that I am taking at this point is a topical antibiotic that I apply when dressing the wound.


I am really ready to get my tank setup again. I am going to wait till my followup with the Dr next Tuesday, Sept 3rd before I put water back in the system. I am pretty sure that I will have a longer cycle given the amount of die off last month... I am thinking 4-5 weeks to properly cycle. Either way, I am going to be patient and take things slow with the re-start.

Day 20

 

[peasofme]

thats nuts. that scratch is so shallow and superficial. scary. will be more careful from now on. don't want to lose an arm or die.

 

[Mysterion]

Hey Heavy glad it didn't get worse, a long time ago my dad went through a similar situation with overlooking a cut from a rusty hook.

You didn't mention, but I was just wondering if you rinsed off your hands after handling?

 

[HeavyWater]

Hey Heavy glad it didn't get worse, a long time ago my dad went through a similar situation with overlooking a cut from a rusty hook.

You didn't mention, but I was just wondering if you rinsed off your hands after handling?

That sucks that your dad went through the same deal... How long did it take him to recover? A month or so?

I think a big factor leading to the infection was poor wound management on my part. While I did wash off the cut with tap water, I did not have soap, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or anything useful to clean the scrape.

I sustained the scratch when moving my tank from my old house to my new one... while I normally have some disinfecting items in the bathroom, everything was still boxed up on the day of the move. At the time, I thought that the scrape was so superficial that I did not go through the trouble of looking through boxes to find some rubbing alcohol (In retrospect I REALLY wish that I had).

 

[Duna_]

Wow ... I'm glad you're better now. That's a horrible experience. I had one when swallowing (accidentally) an aitapsia.

We have to be careful when handling saltwater things ...

Thanks for telling us.