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Unread 03/17/2009, 10:48 PM   #26
uofimed08
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Not trying to start anything, simply giving an opinion. Didn't say you had a compromised immune system. I think you just had bad luck. Just because there are bacteria in out tank doesnt translate into an infection. We are covered in bacteria. The human body is an amazing thing. Obviously its a "perfect storm" scenerio for someone to get an infection. Like I said, I wear gloves, more out of habit than anything. Not saying others shouldnt. Just trying to give another perspective.

And as for teaming with bacteria, so is amost everything you touch on a daily basis, most of those bacteria are not pathogenic, a select few are. I think that "more than a good chance" of infection is over stating it. You probably have a greater chance of an infection touching a counter in a hospital than sticking your hand in a tank. Not to mention that neosporin isnt going to stop a serious infection, but you seem to have good luck with it so there you go.

Precautions are good, I just feel that too many people try to "scare" others into doing what they think is right with much of a basis other than a story here and a story there. Again, just my opinion, sorry about your infection and i hope it heals it nicely.


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Unread 03/17/2009, 10:51 PM   #27
SDguy
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Quote:
Originally posted by uofimed08
Precautions are good, I just feel that too many people try to "scare" others into doing what they think is right with much of a basis other than a story here and a story there. Again, just my opinion, sorry about your infection and i hope it heals it nicely.
*Sigh* Yup, I'm just trying to scare peeps into reefing my way.... busted.


Thanks for the kind words.


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Unread 03/17/2009, 11:03 PM   #28
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So let's look at the facts as stated:

1. Hand in tank
2. Hand gets cut on an object within the tank
3. Symptoms of an infection as in a "pathogenic" bacteria enters the wound site causing a...
4. Trip to the doctor with a diagnosis of "infection"
5. Prescribed an antibiotic

Besides the "perfect storm" scenario that's all that is being stated here...it can happen.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 07:34 AM   #29
uofimed08
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All I said was that it is a small probability, not that it couldnt happen. He obviously has an infection, did it come from the tank? Who knows. Infections of the finger, around the nail bed(called paronychia) are fairly common. And it clearly stated that he didnt cut his hand in the tank, he had "hangnail like" cuts before he put his hand in the tank. So lets make sure our "facts" are straight. Its just as likely that he has a simple staph infection thats not from his tank. But there is a possiblity that the infection did come from his tank, all I am saying is that IMO it's a small probablitiy. Unless his doctor drains it and cultures it we could never know.
I'm just pointing out that the tank may not be to blame, and having his hand in the tank may be a coincidence. Although, having ones hands in the water often can predispose you to paronychia.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 07:51 AM   #30
RumLad
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Quote:
Originally posted by Gdevine
So let's look at the facts as stated:

1. Hand in tank
2. Hand gets cut on an object within the tank
3. Symptoms of an infection as in a "pathogenic" bacteria enters the wound site causing a...
4. Trip to the doctor with a diagnosis of "infection"
5. Prescribed an antibiotic

Besides the "perfect storm" scenario that's all that is being stated here...it can happen.
Nowhere in the original post did SDGuy say he got cut in the tank. Quite the opposite in fact. He actuially stated that nothing out of the ordinary happened.
So lets get the "facts" straight, okay?


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Unread 03/18/2009, 07:51 AM   #31
tiffrobbins
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Its amazing how fast infections can become serious.
My hubby (a very big, strong man that nothing can defeat) fell off a ladder and got a 1/4 inch scrape on his knee. It didn't even bleed. He said it hurt really bad, but we were just so happy that was all that happened. A few days later, it seemed like it was healing up but he was still complaining that it hurt. About 12 hours later, his knee had almost doubled in size and he was screaming in pain. It was the longest night of my life. No wife wants to hear her big, strong man crying like that.
It took about four weeks and 3 different antibiotics for it to start healing up. A year later he said it was still sensitive.
Infections are not to be taken lightly & neither are small cuts.
I'm so glad you were able to get on it quickly and get to a doctor. Scary stuff!


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:21 AM   #32
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OK, let's chill, here, people. If you can't simply take this as an experience offered up to others to save themselves some grief, I suggest you move on. Geesh, this'll teach me, next time I want to share an experience

Correct. A couple small hangnail type cuts were already on that side of the thumb. FWIW, I wasn't just "in the tank." I was mucking around with rocks, a nem, zoas, mushrooms...removing all these to another tank. The thumb repeatdly came into contact with all sorts of goodies. Not a tank I would consider pristine, either.

If you want to talk "remote chances" how about the idea that the same thumb gets infected from a source other than the tank the same day I work on the tank Now that's remote.

My lesson learned: I'll wear gloves next time I do any "heavy lifting" in my tanks.

Anyone else can take what they want from this.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:27 AM   #33
SDguy
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Quote:
Originally posted by tiffrobbins
Its amazing how fast infections can become serious.
My hubby (a very big, strong man that nothing can defeat) fell off a ladder and got a 1/4 inch scrape on his knee. It didn't even bleed. He said it hurt really bad, but we were just so happy that was all that happened. A few days later, it seemed like it was healing up but he was still complaining that it hurt. About 12 hours later, his knee had almost doubled in size and he was screaming in pain. It was the longest night of my life. No wife wants to hear her big, strong man crying like that.
It took about four weeks and 3 different antibiotics for it to start healing up. A year later he said it was still sensitive.
Infections are not to be taken lightly & neither are small cuts.
I'm so glad you were able to get on it quickly and get to a doctor. Scary stuff!
Wow, sounds scary! Yeah, it was amazing. At 36 hours the thumb looked like I caught it in a car door. But since I started the antibiotics, it's getting better. Still a bit warm to the touch, but definitely less swollen.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:42 AM   #34
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Quote:
Originally posted by bubbles129129
hows this?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=8162
ive been seeing quite a few reef related infection problems lately... I should probably get some gloves myself
These are way too thin. I have them, but they keep tearing. The purple and orange ones are way too thick for me. I might try the pond ones tho. I generally just wear the latex type ones, but if I accidentally brush my cabbage coral it's pretty painful. I usually take benedryl and pour vinegar over it before I ever have a reaction, and that helps quite a bit.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:50 AM   #35
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Oh yeah...glad you are ok Peter.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 09:10 AM   #36
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Glad you're doing okay. I've had a couple of experiences with handling large polyp palys; not as serious as yours, but enough so that last time I did a tank tear down I wore gloves.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 09:18 AM   #37
snorvich
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Gloves for me. Too many diving "incidents" to take the risk.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 09:22 AM   #38
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Glad you are ok Peter. I wear latex gloves along with protective eye wear. I have some anthais that get rowdy when I'm working in the tank and splash water on the surface. I had a friend almost losing an eye from an infection due to water splashing in his eye.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 02:14 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally posted by SDguy
OK, let's chill, here, people. If you can't simply take this as an experience offered up to others to save themselves some grief, I suggest you move on. Geesh, this'll teach me, next time I want to share an experience
Peter, keep posting your experiences. That is how we learn.

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Unread 03/18/2009, 05:05 PM   #40
uofimed08
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Dont get me wrong I appreciate you sharing your experience, as Melev said, thats how we learn. I was just trying to give some more insight (from a different perspective) into it. Sorry if it offended you. I'm sure you have more experience in reefing than I do, however, I am a physician and the reason I point out the possibility that an infection might not be marine related is because treatment/prognosis can vary, thats all. No harm meant. Again, I hope it heals up nicely.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:18 PM   #41
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Antibacterial soap,and hot water goes a long way.Use it after putting bare hands in your tank,or when dealing with any animal contact.Seems to me to be a basic concept.

hope all goes good ,Peter.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 08:48 PM   #42
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I once had a infection called being argumentive and thinking im smarter than what I am. When someone tried to help somebody else out, I had to try to prove how they were wrong when they probally werent. It made me miserable to be around and gave proof that I couldnt control my negativity enough, even when nobody cared about what I had to say. I eventually matured and am more pleasant to be around.
I appreciate the info on your infection and hope I dont have to go threw that. Hope your recoup goes soon.


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Unread 03/18/2009, 10:25 PM   #43
Gdevine
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by SDguy

If you want to talk "remote chances" how about the idea that the same thumb gets infected from a source other than the tank the same day I work on the tank Now that's remote.

My lesson learned: I'll wear gloves next time I do any "heavy lifting" in my tanks.

And that's all my point was as well Peter. I get small infections every time I get nicked from my dock just off the Intracoastal. The pilings that are in the water are covered with crustaceans that are loaded with bacteria that cause infections...if it happened once it happened a dozen times over the years...why would a reef tank loaded with possibly millions of different bacteria possibly not cause the same thing?

Some times these threads just get to heated (or debated) for no sound reason.

Get better man!


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Unread 03/25/2009, 11:03 AM   #44
maxheadroom
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How's the finger? Did the Dr have to drain it?


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Unread 03/25/2009, 01:56 PM   #45
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I forget where I read it, but I did read that the surface of some soft corals (I think a leather coral was studied) was found to be the 2nd most biologically diverse surface ever tested on the planet, only trailing mud found in a certain bog setting. I remember it had pseudomonis bacteria among others present on it. Pseudomonis is relatively common, but potentially very dangerous. I nearly lost my arm when I got a pseudomonis infection in my radius bone at my elbow. It happened as a result of surgery not a reefkeeping accident, but the fact remains that there are a lot of very serious things in the tank that shouldn't be taken lightly.


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Unread 03/25/2009, 02:30 PM   #46
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I have the thick ones like these:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...54&pcatid=5554
They are cumbersome at first, but you get used to them and I love them now. I have my hands in the tank all the time it seems, and have no worries about bringing something into the tank or getting an infection myself.


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Unread 03/25/2009, 02:53 PM   #47
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Don't mean to hijack the thread, but since folks are talking about gloves, is there anything wrong or risky with using the regular latex gloves that you can buy from the drugstore? The box says that they're "medical quality" but "Powdered with absorbable dusting powder USP for easy on easy off". The only information that I can find on the powder is that it's a modified corn starch. Would that be potentially harmful to my tank? I mean, they're just normal length gloves so if I go past wrist deep in the water it's possible that some of the powder will get into the tank. Anyone know if this is a risk or not?


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Unread 03/25/2009, 02:59 PM   #48
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You can use regular latex but from what I have heard they should be the unpowdered ones. I think most building and hardware stores carry them.


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Unread 03/25/2009, 03:16 PM   #49
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If you have a good relationship with your vet, and if he/she/they do large animals, horses and cows and such, which mine does, see if they will give you or sell you the ones they use to deliver calves.. got 50 pair for his cost, $4.. they are just thick enough to hold up, and just thin enough to feel what you are doing..


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Unread 03/25/2009, 03:43 PM   #50
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I think gloves of any kind are safer if only for not brushing up against paly's and the like. Sometimes after working in my tank I get a rash on my arms, I wash them well and they're generally ok by the next day.

I have seen (somewhere) surgical gloves that come up to the elbow but I don't remember where but I do remember that they were very expensive and of course they are for one time use only.

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