Watch Out For The Flesh Eating Fish Tank Bacteria

[digitalphrage]

When Cox was only 8-years-old she was cleaning out the family fish tank and contracted a very rare infection in a scrape on her hand called mycobacterium marinum, or sometimes called fish tank granuloma, according to 7News. That was five years ago and now the bacteria seems to have become drug-resistant and transformed into a “superbug” strain that is eating away tissue and several bones in her right hand which could lead to amputation.

Link

Not that this is enough to scare me away from the hobby, but I thought I'd point this out.

 

[platytudes]

Yeah, PFK just featured this article:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=4018

Fish TB usually just causes a painful lesion, but in her case it has invaded other tissue and bone. I guess it was only a matter of time before fish TB grew antibiotic resistance. This is just what makes staph infections like MRSA so scary.

I wish the articles would use this story to highlight the dangers of antibiotic resistance, an issue that many people are still unaware of. I know of several people who go to the doctor on a regular basis for things like "sinus infections" which are probably just acute head colds or allergies...their doctors just dole out the medicine without a second thought! Something to think about.

 

[platytudes]

Did anyone else notice how yellow the tank water looks? I'm surprised she (or her parents) still have those fish, and I imagine no one wants to clean the tank considering...

 

[flossyfloofloo]

chop her hand off !!! job done

 

[Fishfriend1]

Scary... and I've accidently cut myself in a tank before, extra scary...

 

[Sparkxx]

I'm scared...
o-o i think I need to be extra careful now.

 

[MichiganMan]

According to the American Pet Products Association, 11,900,000 US households have freshwater fish for pets. Taking the high number for reported diagnoses, 150, from the article means that there is a .001% chance to contract mycobacterium marinum.

Obviously, time to hit the PANIC BUTTON forcefully and often.

 

[platytudes]

I'm sure it's much more likely that this will happen to you:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/beginnerfaqs/a/aquariumsafety.htm

Broken Aquarium
In the story of the man who lost his life, the culprit was a simple ten gallon glass aquarium. The victim consumed alcohol, lost his balance and fell into the tank, breaking it and severing an artery. Is the story true? I haven't been able to verify it, but true or not, this type of accident has the potential for happening.

That's right kiddos, stay out of the liquor cabinet.... :

 

[axelrod12]

According to the American Pet Products Association, 11,900,000 US households have freshwater fish for pets. Taking the high number for reported diagnoses, 150, from the article means that there is a .001% chance to contract mycobacterium marinum.

Obviously, time to hit the PANIC BUTTON forcefully and often.

Just a thought but of those 11,900,000 how many have their hands in a tank as frequently as many of the people on AC. There is a difference between hobbyists such as us and the common owner that often neglects their tank.

 

[TheFishBoss97]

That is scary, especially if you have a cichlid tank with lots of rocks(sharp/edged), then the risk is much higher. I feel better since I have only large smooth river rocks in my tank, smooth substrate, all live plants, and nothing sharp!

Wow, but it probably only happened since the water conditions were poor?