Mycobacterium Marinum

[myrrhlin]

I found an article recently about, "Mycobacterium marinum" infections in humans, and am almost certain that I have indeed been exposed to it through my salt water aquarium.

It's EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING that this forum's search functions have been disabled, so I have no way to search for more information.

If ANYONE would be so kind as to post some links to other discussions that might help me solve this problem that has been ongoing for nearly two years now and has still not been diagnosed!

I have been experiencing painful, arthritis like symptoms in both arms (symmetrically) shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers and am desperately trying to figure out what's going on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
~Greg

 

[Gwynhidwy]

If you tell your doctors to specifically culture for Mycobacterium marinum, they should be able to isolate that bacteria through culture, if that is what you have. The problem is that M. marinum does not grow quickly and prefers lower temperatures than most of the organisms doctors normally look for, so if they don't provide the correct environment during culture because they are looking for more common bacteria, the M. marinum will either not grow because it is too warm, or be out competed by other bacteria that reproduce more quickly and are favored by the conditions.

As I understand it, I've never had this condition myself, there are normally nodules at the site of infection due to the body's tendency to sequester the infection. It does tend to remain in the extremities as you describe because of its preference for cooler temperatures.

 

[myrrhlin]

Thanks for the info! I understand that in most cases, there are generally nodules on the skin, (which I never had) however, around about the time that my first "arthritis like" symptoms began to appear in both wrists, I had been cleaning my salt water aquarium and received a tiny puncture wound from a piece of live rock (or something attached to it) that I was moving without gloves...

At any rate, I've been trying to diagnose this problem (which after two years is still ongoing and has spread from my wrists to ALL joints in BOTH arms (fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders). Doctor's have already eliminated just about all of the most common possibilities, and the article I found specifically mentions that "in rare cases" this bacteria can sometimes go deeper and affect the joints and bones! This has really got me thinking that I need to be properly tested (just to be sure)!

I was just hoping that perhaps there might be someone else out there who has experienced this bacteria directly and could share their story about it...

Thanks,
~Greg

 

[LauraCline]

Here's a reefkeeping article on the subject


http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/sp/feature/index.php

 

[mhltcob]

You can do a search of reefcentral or any website by going to google, click on advanced search, than search within the site/domain www.reefcentral.com.