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#26 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 18
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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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#27 | |
Fish heads unite!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 23,384
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Quote:
Thanks for the kind words.
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Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT. |
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#28 |
Premium Member
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Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Posts: 1,232
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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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What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method |
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#29 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 18
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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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#30 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Chicagoland
Posts: 794
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Quote:
So lets get the "facts" straight, okay?
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"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. " H. D. Thoreau |
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#31 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas City, KS
Posts: 68
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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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Tiffany A. Robbins Current Tank Info: Starting Over w/ 25 Gal from Bare Basics |
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#32 |
Fish heads unite!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 23,384
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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 ![]() 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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Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT. |
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#33 | |
Fish heads unite!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 23,384
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Quote:
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Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT. |
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#34 | |
Moderator Emeritus
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Location: Wyoming
Posts: 44,684
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Quote:
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Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals- |
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#35 |
Moderator Emeritus
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Location: Wyoming
Posts: 44,684
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Oh yeah...glad you are ok Peter.
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Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals- |
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#36 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,164
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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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#38 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,991
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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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#39 | |
Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Ft Worth, Tx
Posts: 43,217
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Quote:
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#40 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 18
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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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#41 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: denver
Posts: 318
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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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Cant talk right now,busy force feeding my Ornate Butterfly-( just kidding!). Current Tank Info: sold it,but still hanging around |
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#42 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 312
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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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#43 |
Premium Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Posts: 1,232
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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 ![]() 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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What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method |
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#44 |
Clownfish Farmer
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Port St. Lucie, FL
Posts: 2,071
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How's the finger? Did the Dr have to drain it?
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#45 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: St Louis, MO
Posts: 1,089
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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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---------------------------------------- Entomologist |
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#46 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Clearwater, Fl
Posts: 727
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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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Home- 125 4X 80w T5, Mostly LPS with some SPS, zoas and palys, Herbie overflow, I Tech 200 skimmer, Home made ATO, Rock wall, Apex. Office- 34 Red Sea Max, stocked with trimmings from home tank. |
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#47 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 19
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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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#48 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Willard, Oh
Posts: 656
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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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Sean Current Tank Info: 120 gal 30 gal sump/fuge, ATB Econo 840 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40w, AC Jr., 2-250watt MH 20K Radiums, Lumen Max 2 reflectors, 2 tek T5 retro actinic, Prime chiller, ATO/kalk reactor, drews dosers on two part. |
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#49 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 78
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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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75 gallon display, 40 gallon fuge/sump in basement. Running wonderfully from 1995, until the ice storm of '09.. back on line Sept '12 after 3 1/2 years of mourning. |
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#50 |
Premium Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 371
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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. Marlene |
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