Betta bacteria spreading to humans...!

This is sort of a warning I guess, as I was totally shocked that this could happen.

A few weeks ago, soon after I started treating Dory for tail rot, I broke out with a strange sort of rash/bumps on most of my body that didn't look like anything I'd ever seen. The doctor was baffled by it, but put me on antibiotics and antihistimines and it was gone by the next week. However, he ran some tests and told me I had contracted pseudomonas, an apparently rare bacteria that can be hard to treat (guess I got lucky). He couldn't figure out where I got it as it is usually only contracted in hospitals and labs, or sometimes in warm water. He told me my hot tub was probably the culprit, but I was extremely dubious of this because my father overchlorinates the thing like crazy.

In any case, I was reading up on tail rot as usual and I stumbled across a site stating:
"This disease is most commonly a secondary infection caused by pseudomonas, aeromonas or flexibacter bacteria after a fish has acquired a wound."
(https://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-fin-rot/)

So I caught it from poor Dory's tank! I generally wash my hands well after dealing with my fish, but apparently not well enough!

 

So is everything ok so far?If you can get treated would it be able to come back?

 

Oh my!!! I'm very glad to hear that the treatment worked!!! Thank you for the warning!!!

 

I'm not sure if I can re-contract it since I haven't talked to a doctor since it went away. I'm also assuming there isn't any more in my tank as I have barraged it with so many meds since that happened... but it's still a little scary!

At least it wasn't TB I guess, which I heard can also spread from fish to people and I assume is more serious.

 

I'm really glad that you were able to treat it and get over it quickly. Good thing you caught it when you did. Natalie

 

Good thing your well, antisen.  And, thanks for the heads up.

I was under the impression that pseudomonas, aeromonas and flexibacter bacterias are pretty common in tropical fish aquariums. 

Mike

 

This is sort of a warning I guess, as I was totally shocked that this could happen.

A few weeks ago, soon after I started treating Dory for tail rot, I broke out with a strange sort of rash/bumps on most of my body that didn't look like anything I'd ever seen. The doctor was baffled by it, but put me on antibiotics and antihistimines and it was gone by the next week. However, he ran some tests and told me I had contracted pseudomonas, an apparently rare bacteria that can be hard to treat (guess I got lucky). He couldn't figure out where I got it as it is usually only contracted in hospitals and labs, or sometimes in warm water. He told me my hot tub was probably the culprit, but I was extremely dubious of this because my father overchlorinates the thing like crazy.

In any case, I was reading up on tail rot as usual and I stumbled across a site stating:
"This disease is most commonly a secondary infection caused by pseudomonas, aeromonas or flexibacter bacteria after a fish has acquired a wound."
(https://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-fin-rot/)

So I caught it from poor Dory's tank! I generally wash my hands well after dealing with my fish, but apparently not well enough!

Yikes! I didn't know so much could be caught from fish.. sure it's supposed to be rare, but I guess a better hand washing with hot water & antibacterial soap after any water contact will be our regular routine from now on. honestly I can get lazy or hectic & skip it or do a fast hand wash sometimes. Glad you got over the pseudomonas.

 

Even the cleanest tank will have some bacteria and healthy fish and people with good immune systems are usually fine. If you have a open cut on your hand you should avoid putting it in the tank or wear gloves. Before I put my hands in the tank I scrub my hands and upper arms with Betadine surgical scrub (iodine-based soap used by surgeons to scrub up before surgery) and make sure to scrub my fingernails to avoid spreading germs to the fish. I do the same after working on the tanks. You can only get Betadine Surgical scrub by special ordering it at the pharmacy counter. It's not expensive. It costs about $10 for a 500ml bottle.

 

Even the cleanest tank will have some bacteria and healthy fish and people with good immune systems are usually fine. If you have a open cut on your hand you should avoid putting it in the tank or wear gloves. Before I put my hands in the tank I scrub my hands and upper arms with Betadine surgical scrub (iodine-based soap used by surgeons to scrub up before surgery) and make sure to scrub my fingernails to avoid spreading germs to the fish. I do the same after working on the tanks. You can only get Betadine Surgical scrub by special ordering it at the pharmacy counter. It's not expensive. It costs about $10 for a 500ml bottle.

Yea, I cook a lot & am often a danger to myself & my community so I'll definitely always use gloves if I have cuts and need to go into one of the tanks or go left-handed with a clean hand. Those disposable gloves are fine unless I have to go deep. So, Betadine isn't like regular soaps & is fish-safe to clean your hands & arms with before going into the tank? I've not heard of it before so we'll have to look for that - would stores like walmart & target be able to get it in their pharmacies or would you need to go to a place like CVS or Walgreens? Thanks for the tip, we want to do the best for good health all around.

 

Betadine isn't scented so it's good. It's made with Iodine and smells a little mediciney but rinse well and you're good to go. I've used baby soap or Ivory soap too. I don't think washing your hands with soap would ever hurt your fish as long as you rinse well and don't use anything really perfumey like deodorant soaps. I just don't trust washing my hands with hot water only before working in the tank. Hot water doesn't kill bacteria and Bettas are so delicate and get sick so easily. This whole paranoia about not using soap to wash before putting hands in tank is just nonsense. Like I said, as long as it's not heavily scented soap and you rinse well the fish will be a lot better off than exposing them to the millions of bacteria people pick up on their hands everyday.
Ask for Betadine surgical scrub at any pharmacy counter. If they won't give it to you then ask for the Betadine Acne wash. It's exactly the same thing except it's a smaller bottle.

 

Betadine isn't scented so it's good. It's made with Iodine and smells a little mediciney but rinse well and you're good to go. I've used baby soap or Ivory soap too. I don't think washing your hands with soap would ever hurt your fish as long as you rinse well and don't use anything really perfumey like deodorant soaps. I just don't trust washing my hands with hot water only before working in the tank. Hot water doesn't kill bacteria and Bettas are so delicate and get sick so easily. This whole paranoia about not using soap to wash before putting hands in tank is just nonsense. Like I said, as long as it's not heavily scented soap and you rinse well the fish will be a lot better off than exposing them to the millions of bacteria people pick up on their hands everyday.
Ask for Betadine surgical scrub at any pharmacy counter. If they won't give it to you then ask for the Betadine Acne wash. It's exactly the same thing except it's a smaller bottle.

Thanks for the advice, us newbies are wanting to learn so we can do the best for the fish in our care and be smart.

 

I appreciate the heads-up too and I'll pick some up the next time I'm at Walgreens. Thanks!