Fish Tank Granuloma

[Huskymaniac]

I posted in the disease section but figured I would post here. This is really eye opening and think its something everyone should be aware of. About 6 weeks ago I scraped my hand in my reef tank. Didnt think anything of it. 2 weeks later I developed a large red infection and have been preliminary diagnosed with Mycobacterium Marinum aka fish tank granuloma. Final confirmation is pending biopsy and culture results which can take up to 3 weeks. Even if it is not Mycobacterium Marinum it is definitly fish tank related. On a side note all of my fish are healthy which means this bacteria can be present without infecting other fish. Chatting with Mr. Fenner this morning he said it is very likely Omnipresent in a majority of aquariums, etc. I hope the takeaway from this is that everyone should practice safe reefing techniques. Wear full length gloves and never work on tanks when you have open wounds. If you get any type of infection after cleaning a fish tank go the doctor asap. Never make assumptions. Thankfully whatever it is was caught early and didnt have a chance to spread up my arm.

 

[steelwrap]

Thanks for the info, definitely gives Me something to think about. Hope Youre healing well

 

[4n2xtacy]

Thank you so much for that info...many of us reefers really dont understand the danger part of reefing. Always Safety First.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Also I want to mention that I am immunosuppresed because of an autoimmune condition so this is a contributing and likely factor as to why I got it. This article was very interesting.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16866922/

 

[Purplelobst92]

Also I want to mention that I am immunosuppresed because of an autoimmune condition so this is a contributing and likely factor as to why I got it. This article was very interesting.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16866922/

so did the scrape heal? and then a sore just appeared?

 

[Huskymaniac]

so did the scrape heal? and then a sore just appeared?

Yes, scrape healed and then woke up to the sore a week or two later.

 

[Wtyson254]

It is present in most aquariums, as is Vibrio vulnificus. Both cause soft tissue infections.