A word to the wise....

[Eagle_Steve]

Maybe have a prescription of Cipro on standby ;)

I have that lol. Makes me think to take one if I cut myself. "One for you Mr. Mag Nem and one for me."

 

[MnFish1]

I think it’s common sense not to ignore a festering/worsening wound no matter how one gets injured, no?!

I still don’t think an average person with a minor cut or two on their hands needs to worry about putting their hands in the tank...best practice afterwards is of course to wash your hands with regular soap.

And as said before if you have a compromised immune system take extra precautions.

It is common sense not to ignore a festering wound - I agree. The average person with a 'minor cut' (whatever that definition is) probably will not be affected - I agree. Its common sense not to ignore a worsening wound - I agree.

The point is - ignoring a wound (Which the vast majority of people will do actually) - is common. If that wound is infected with staph - it might get better on its own - it might need antibiotics. The difference is that a wound containing vibrio - MAY rapidly worsen - to the point that hours are important not 1-2 days - and its something everyone should be aware of. One of the biggest risks for vibrio infection is alcohol - (drinking) - even up to 2-3 drinks/day (in addition to diabetes, other liver disease, chemotherapy, immunosuppression). That said there are lots of people who have no known 'risks' that get quite sick from this bacteria - about 80,000/year.

We can agree to disagree (and actually its not you and I disagreeing) Its you disagreeing with most of the common recommendations about swimming with 'wounds' or especially if you cut yourself on coral, etc while swimming (Which is similar to extended periods in a tank).
MANY (I dont) recommend wearing elbow length gloves every time they put their hands in the tanks for this and other reasons.

Just to make it clear - I'm not being 'chicken little' on this issue - the risk is small - but people should be aware. No more no less:)

 

[Hemmdog]

I have that lol. Makes me think to take one if I cut myself. "One for you Mr. Mag Nem and one for me."

Lol

 

[NeutronMan]

Rattlesnake bites are rare, but doesn’t mean I’ll play with my dogs in the yard around them if I can help it. It’s easy to get complacent...Would like to NOT get vibrio over a moment of bad luck and lapse in judgement. Before I got an auto water change control, I siphoned my water by mouth. Had no idea.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Myco infections are real. I don't care if it's a 1 in a million odds because I was that one in a million. I have a 120 watt pentair uv sterilizer so bacteria counts are way low. Myco bacteria tends to be in the biofilm so think overflow section, sump, and not directly floating around in the water. I got it from a cutting my hand adjusting piping in my overflow area. Unfortunately it is likely in everyone's tank and there are at least 3 different types that you can get from aquariums.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Many bacteria in a closed system such as an aquarium and we hear it over and over but how many of us actually wear gloves??

 

[TheGreatWave]

Here is another poor fella don't know if it was mentioned already. https://www.foxnews.com/health/texas-man-dies-flesh-eating-bacteria-fourth-of-july-beach

 

[stacksoner]

Reefers dismiss the sobering fact that the hobby involves procuring coral and fish (with unknown pathogens) from every part of the world, and introducing them into a highly confined system.

I think people underestimate how easy this makes it for a nematode or other microscopic parasite to enter the skin when one sticks their arms into a tank.

 

[jayda]

Well for what it's worth, I can share my experience with Mycobacterium Marinum, which I am still going through the process of diagnosing at the moment... no lies.

About 2 months ago I noticed a small nodule to swell up around my pinky finger. A week later, another soft and small nodule developed on my right wrist. At this point I actually thought I was developing Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I sought the aid of a Rheumatologist.

The Rheumatologist asked me all of these questions, had an X-ray done and also an MRI. Towards the end of the appointment, he says "This is going to sound VERY random but you wouldn't happen to be into aquariums at all are you?" I laughed. I told him that I had a couple of fish tanks at home and asked him why he asked me this question. He told me that he has had a few patients in the past come in and think they were developing rheumatoid arthritis but in fact all were aquarists that got an infection from this bacteria known as "Mycobacterium Marinum". I was amazed at this hunch of his.

He told me I had to get a biopsy done by a hand specialist and then I could take the results to an infectious disease doctor who would prescribe me the antibiotic to kill this bacteria.

Of course my first question was just how serious of an infection is this, assuming that I do in fact have this. He told me to relax - a mycobacterium marinum infection is a VERY slow developing infection that usually stays local to the site of infection and just causes some soft tissue swelling and occasionally red bumps to form on the skin.

Anyway, I just had the surgical biopsy done last week. The hand surgeon told me the results will take about 3-4 weeks. I actually met the infectious disease doctor just for a consultation too and he also said there's nothing to worry about with an infection of mycobacterium marinum. He told me this type of infection is classified as a "Hobby-related infection" and is just a nuisance more than anything. There's no pressing urgency at all with this and it's 100% treatable.

So, Im just waiting to get the results back from the lab. At this point in time, all three doctors think that I do most likely have this infection but it's not a big deal. All I have is still just two small nodules of swelling on my pinky finger and wrist.

Oh yea I forgot to add... I have always had a terrible case of eczema on my hands. We believe that the open sores and cuts from my eczema led to my infection. The infectious disease doctor told me after all of this is done to start using rubber gloves when I clean my tank.

Anyway, cheers all.

 

[stacksoner]

Well for what it's worth, I can share my experience with Mycobacterium Marinum, which I am still going through the process of diagnosing at the moment... no lies.

About 2 months ago I noticed a small nodule to swell up around my pinky finger. A week later, another soft and small nodule developed on my right wrist. At this point I actually thought I was developing Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I sought the aid of a Rheumatologist.

The Rheumatologist asked me all of these questions, had an X-ray done and also an MRI. Towards the end of the appointment, he says "This is going to sound VERY random but you wouldn't happen to be into aquariums at all are you?" I laughed. I told him that I had a couple of fish tanks at home and asked him why he asked me this question. He told me that he has had a few patients in the past come in and think they were developing rheumatoid arthritis but in fact all were aquarists that got an infection from this bacteria known as "Mycobacterium Marinum". I was amazed at this hunch of his.

He told me I had to get a biopsy done by a hand specialist and then I could take the results to an infectious disease doctor who would prescribe me the antibiotic to kill this bacteria.

Of course my first question was just how serious of an infection is this, assuming that I do in fact have this. He told me to relax - a mycobacterium marinum infection is a VERY slow developing infection that usually stays local to the site of infection and just causes some soft tissue swelling and occasionally red bumps to form on the skin.

Anyway, I just had the surgical biopsy done last week. The hand surgeon told me the results will take about 3-4 weeks. I actually met the infectious disease doctor just for a consultation too and he also said there's nothing to worry about with an infection of mycobacterium marinum. He told me this type of infection is classified as a "Hobby-related infection" and is just a nuisance more than anything. There's no pressing urgency at all with this and it's 100% treatable.

So, Im just waiting to get the results back from the lab. At this point in time, all three doctors think that I do most likely have this infection but it's not a big deal. All I have is still just two small nodules of swelling on my pinky finger and wrist.

Oh yea I forgot to add... I have always had a terrible case of eczema on my hands. We believe that the open sores and cuts from my eczema led to my infection. The infectious disease doctor told me after all of this is done to start using rubber gloves when I clean my tank.

Anyway, cheers all.

Thanks for sharing this. Reefers, by nature are DIY-prone, which makes going to the Doc bc of something minor almost a rarity. With the exception of successfully growing SPS, there's little about this hobby that's worth losing an arm and a leg for.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Well for what it's worth, I can share my experience with Mycobacterium Marinum, which I am still going through the process of diagnosing at the moment... no lies.

About 2 months ago I noticed a small nodule to swell up around my pinky finger. A week later, another soft and small nodule developed on my right wrist. At this point I actually thought I was developing Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I sought the aid of a Rheumatologist.

The Rheumatologist asked me all of these questions, had an X-ray done and also an MRI. Towards the end of the appointment, he says "This is going to sound VERY random but you wouldn't happen to be into aquariums at all are you?" I laughed. I told him that I had a couple of fish tanks at home and asked him why he asked me this question. He told me that he has had a few patients in the past come in and think they were developing rheumatoid arthritis but in fact all were aquarists that got an infection from this bacteria known as "Mycobacterium Marinum". I was amazed at this hunch of his.

He told me I had to get a biopsy done by a hand specialist and then I could take the results to an infectious disease doctor who would prescribe me the antibiotic to kill this bacteria.

Of course my first question was just how serious of an infection is this, assuming that I do in fact have this. He told me to relax - a mycobacterium marinum infection is a VERY slow developing infection that usually stays local to the site of infection and just causes some soft tissue swelling and occasionally red bumps to form on the skin.

Anyway, I just had the surgical biopsy done last week. The hand surgeon told me the results will take about 3-4 weeks. I actually met the infectious disease doctor just for a consultation too and he also said there's nothing to worry about with an infection of mycobacterium marinum. He told me this type of infection is classified as a "Hobby-related infection" and is just a nuisance more than anything. There's no pressing urgency at all with this and it's 100% treatable.

So, Im just waiting to get the results back from the lab. At this point in time, all three doctors think that I do most likely have this infection but it's not a big deal. All I have is still just two small nodules of swelling on my pinky finger and wrist.

Oh yea I forgot to add... I have always had a terrible case of eczema on my hands. We believe that the open sores and cuts from my eczema led to my infection. The infectious disease doctor told me after all of this is done to start using rubber gloves when I clean my tank.

Anyway, cheers all.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask or send me a PM. I just got the cured message from my ID Doc and I am finishing up my last 6 weeks of antibiotics.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Ya this is absolutely a real thing. I contracted M. Marinum while moving my tank a few years back. Got a puncture wound from my rock work on my pinky knuckle. Within 24hrs the joint had seized, another lesion opened up on my wrist and the pain was so bad it woke me up at about 2 am and I had to go to the emergency room. Another buddy of mine contracted necrotizing fasciitis (vibrio) in a similar manner and was hospitalized for a few days. The moral of the story is WEAR GLOVES always. These diseases are no joke and I had the misfortune of having the puncture occur directly on a joint so unlike others mine rapidly infiltrated the joint and spread from there. The infectious disease Dr was quite concerned because of the place the infection was and the fact that it spread so quickly. Because of this I was treated with an immediate IV and prescribed a nearly month long course of 3 different abts. Also, this is more common then many people think. An aquarium is a closed system so it will naturally have a much higher population of nasty bacteria then a typical slice of ocean. My infectious disease dr was not surprised by this and with the proliferation of the hobby in Florida he estimated that he has seen about 50 cases of vibrio or m marinum himself in the past 10 years.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Here is my lovely M. Marinum photo

 

[Signalhead]

Oh boy, my wife is right first the stress of settingup, risk of going blind with the LEDs, now this? This tank is going to be the death of me. But I will never tell her that she is right.

 

[livingcolors]

First of all, the guy with the skin turned all gooey was because zoas and palys are highly toxic, deadly in fact. Second, believe me, we are all exposed to far more infectious agents every time we go to Walmart

 

[brandon429]

Requisite reading material for 100% of classroom reef posts by teachers

 

[MnFish1]

First of all, the guy with the skin turned all gooey was because zoas and palys are highly toxic, deadly in fact. Second, believe me, we are all exposed to far more infectious agents every time we go to Walmart

You're wrong. (well - maybe correct about Walmart).

 

[brandon429]

Agreed. I have no concern handling non palythoa. Standard zos nbd. Every single wet item is a potential bac vector though, hand washing and taking bio chances in the hobby still applies

 

[karlandtanya]

I'll add my M.marinum story to the list:
My finger swelled to 2x normal size & the orthopedist cut it & cleaned it out Thursday. Follow up appt today he says it's Tenosynovitis due to Mycobacterium. He said it's probably marinum due to my hobby, but infectious disease group will follow up later this week to confirm the specifics.
Anyhow, I've got physical therapy & a long course of antibiotics coming my way. And 2 pairs of nitrile gloves in the mail!
Doc said he'd never seen anything like it & he took pictures, but I won't post them here--they're pretty gnarly.
If you want to see, they're here:
Marinum pics

 

[Huskymaniac]

I'll add my M.marinum story to the list:
My finger swelled to 2x normal size & the orthopedist cut it & cleaned it out Thursday. Follow up appt today he says it's Tenosynovitis due to Mycobacterium. He said it's probably marinum due to my hobby, but infectious disease group will follow up later this week to confirm the specifics.
Anyhow, I've got physical therapy & a long course of antibiotics coming my way. And 2 pairs of nitrile gloves in the mail!
Doc said he'd never seen anything like it & he took pictures, but I won't post them here--they're pretty gnarly.
If you want to see, they're here:
Marinum pics

Omg. Hope you heal well. I am in the last 6 weeks of my antibiotic treatment. I was diagnosed fairly quickly. So it never progressed to the point of yours. Let me know if you have any questions. Your probably going to be on a combo of clarithromycin and ethambutol.