Do I need ABx? Doctor?

[piranhaman00]

My jeweled moray just nipped me. I remember reading bacterial infection rate is high. I rinsed with hot water and soap immediately now bandage and neosporin.

help?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Ha! I normally draw the line at giving medical advice for humans (see disclaimer in my tagline below).

Was it a puncture or a slash? If the latter, less of an issue I think. Still, aquariums have a variety of nasty bacteria in them.

Side story: back in the 1980's, I was the head diver at a public aquarium. One of my divers got slashed by a 8' green moray while he was CARRYING IT during a dive show. He finished the show with his hand tucked under his arm. When he came out, I couldn't stop the bleeding and so I drove him to the hospital instead of calling an ambulance (because I figured it was faster), but still, that was stupid on my part. He recovered with no loss of function, but with 30+ stitches so I guess you'll be o.k. (grin).

Jewel morays sure are nasty critters....seriously though, any sign of infection, see a doctor!


Jay

 

[piranhaman00]

Ha! I normally draw the line at giving medical advice for humans (see disclaimer in my tagline below).

Was it a puncture or a slash? If the latter, less of an issue I think. Still, aquariums have a variety of nasty bacteria in them.

Side story: back in the 1980's, I was the head diver at a public aquarium. One of my divers got slashed by a 8' green moray while he was CARRYING IT during a dive show. He finished the show with his hand tucked under his arm. When he came out, I couldn't stop the bleeding and so I drove him to the hospital instead of calling an ambulance (because I figured it was faster), but still, that was stupid on my part. He recovered with no loss of function, but with 30+ stitches so I guess you'll be o.k. (grin).

Jewel morays sure are nasty critters....seriously though, any sign of infection, see a doctor!


Jay

It’s an actual bite, 4 distinct teeth, no stiches needed, already done bleeding, I will watch it. Thanks!

 

[ichthyogeek]

Off the top of my head, the two bacterial infections I can think of that involve saltwater are Vibrio and Mycobacterium infections. Not a doctor, but if you start seeing any rapid tissue necrosis (i.e. your finger starts looking REAL weird), then get to a doctor. Or if you start seeing bumps in that area a while (6 months or so), then again, get to a doctor.

Other than that, seems like you did standard first aid in a calm manner, which is good. Wish I could have done that when a wasp stung my toe while carrying a bucket of water last night....water went EVERYWHERE.