Teenager May Lose Hand to Rare, Flesh-Eating Fish Tank Bacteria
- Thread starter Gary Majchrzak
- Start date
GMaquarium
New member
makes me sad. Use gloves folks.
Randrew215
New member
Thanks for the link. Unfortunate for the girl. I wonder what the incidence of M. marinatum infection is for a given year. I know we had some recent tank-related infections in upstate, does anyone care to share if this bacteria was the causative agent?
RandyO
Active member
I contracted this bacteria in 2000. Luckily it was quickly identified by an Infectious disease specialist. He said it was very rare in Western NY. He said there were around 12 cases of it in the last 10 years. Since then I know of another Western NY reefer that contracted this bacteria.
Antibiotics were slow to help and I eventually had to have surgery to remove the infected flesh.
sf_ramsden
New member
Wow, at least you got it taken care of before it was too late. My friends at work saw this story a few days ago and were telling me that that I need to watch out... I didn't pay much attention to this assuming it was extremely rare, but after reading this I may have to reconsider. I knew the hobby could be dangerous, but this is another thing I will need to look out for.
acdraindrps
New member
Ever since the hype a few years ago on this forum, I wash my hands obsessively after having my hands in a tank.
Don't dismiss these warnings, people.
Don't dismiss these warnings, people.
cardiffgiant
Active member
I wear surgical gloves 90% of the time. A couple of folks got sick from handling live rock last year. The next time that I need to do that I'll be using stronger work gloves.
Randrew215
New member
I'm glad to hear it's relatively rare and that the ID doc picked up your case in time to correct it.
I was one of them... Next time I do that, I'll be wearing a full hazmat suit and be using a robot arm!
In all seriousness though, I still don't wear gloves. If you have a cut on your hand, avoid putting it in the tank. Wash your hands afterwards. If you start getting sick and you think it's from tank, call your doctor immediately.
Mycobacterium marinum was one of the things I feared I had when my tank sent me to the hospital. I was there for four days and still have limited motion and pain in my thumb. That's nothing compared to what she is going through though.
block head
New member
my car salesman was dead in a week (fairport) when he got he got infected w/flesh eating bacteria. wish i understood this crap better.
belgian_waffleman
New member
I rub corals over my body every day to boost my immune system. JK.
I do have gloves but rarely use them, I do use the tongs all the time to avoid contact with corals.
I will start using them again.
Nico
I do have gloves but rarely use them, I do use the tongs all the time to avoid contact with corals.
I will start using them again.
Nico
Those tongs are awesome! It saves my hands from being bit by my clownfish when I steal their tile of eggs.
GMaquarium
New member
Tongs and gloves are great, a must have for every hobbyist. But keeping your mouth shut while working on the aquarium is equally important. A lesson I recently learned.
Steve Canyon
New member
I don't wear gloves, but I have considered a surgical mask. It seems that I'm hacking and coughing for a couple days after my weekly deep cleanings. My glasses get splashed every time I work on my tanks. If it weren't for them, I'd consider wearing my safety glasses from work with the side shields... I wonder if there are any statistically credible studies addressing the subject of reef vs salt vs freshwater aquariests medical issues.
GMaquarium
New member
Between my father and I one could probably write a textbook on us. After years of getting infections from cuts, bites and stings, countless eye and skin problems. I though my system could handle anything. Couple weeks ago I had an infection brought to my body by huge tube anemone. While getting splashed I must have had my mouth open. Have never been this sick in my life.
Willistein
Active member
Since I can't afford an industrial robot, what are good tongs for 2 foot deep tanks? I have gloves, but the tongs sound like a good idea.
RandyO
Active member
Search Ebay for Hemostats. You should find all differnt sizes. I use 18" and 24" stainless steel hemostats with the curved ends. They still rust after a few years, but they are only 15.00-20.00.
ReefBoarder turned me onto the tongs. They come with a pair of blades so you can cut things too, but I've never used them. I want to say corallife makes them, but I'm not sure offhand. I picked them up at Petco, but the LFS may sell them as well.
