A meeting you don't want to miss

[5th Tuition]

On Monday night, I will be presenting a Power Point presentation on Mycobacterium marinum (fish handlers disease), MRSA (methicillin resistant Staph. aureus), and Vibrio (Vibrio vulnificus). The good news is that I have someone from the State Health Dept. coming as well. My area of expertice is with Myco. only. I have a general background and can answer some questions about MRSA and Vibrio, but Dr. David Blythe, assistant director of the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Outbreak Response, will be there to answer questions.
I have called in some favors (from my years of working with DHMH) to get Dr. Blythe (or a representative) to appear at our meeting.
We all know of Tawn's and Charlie's infections this summer. Tawn will be at the meeting to give an account of his experience. Charlie wishes he could be available, but he is receiving skin grafts this week on his legs. Keep Charlie in your prayers, he still has a way to go until full recovery.

Rick, from Fishoff Gloves will be there at my request. He will be selling his gloves. They are a great option for preventing some of these infections.

Capt. John Whittman will be there selling his spoons, spreader bars, and umbrella's just in time for the Blues and Spanish Mackerel.

The MSSA meeting will be held at the American Legion Post #175. It is on Manhattan Beach Rd, Severna Park, Md. 21146. Doors open at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7:30pm. Please try to attend.
5th (Marty)

[Skip]

Marty , thanks for posting and also for volunteering your time to teach us about these nasty diseases.

[5th Tuition]

Originally Posted by Skip

Marty , thanks for posting and also for volunteering your time to teach us about these nasty diseases.

Skip,
It's my pleasure. With both Tawn and Charlie getting infections this year, it proves that none of us are immune to contracting infections from the bay. While rare, these are fast acting organisms (MRSA & Vibrio) that need immediate attention. Both Tawn and Charlie had to be surprised when they were seen at one hospital and quickly transported to another hospital because they needed specialized care.
I am by no means an expert on all three of these organisms, but if we can simply send the message that "time is of the essence" when treating, we will have accomplished a great deal.
Please come, see the photos of Tawn and Charlie, be aware and informed.
5th

[5th Tuition]

Anybody planning on attending? I promised the Dr. From the State at least 20-25 people
5th

[Hockleyneck]

Originally Posted by 5th Tuition

Anybody planning on attending? I promised the Dr. From the State at least 20-25 people
5th

Marty,
I really wish I could attend but my son and I are taking the MD Hunter Safety course. Do you think you should see a doc right after being stuck or wait and see if it becomes red/inflamed?

[garlien]

Marty,

My one arm and I are going to try....

If you need 20 people, I can gather up drunks and kids from the neighborhood and bring them with me...

Mike

[5th Tuition]

Originally Posted by Hockleyneck

Marty,
I really wish I could attend but my son and I are taking the MD Hunter Safety course. Do you think you should see a doc right after being stuck or wait and see if it becomes red/inflamed?

Definitely wait! These are still rare infections. However, once you know for sure that you have a problem (looks worse than a normal stick), the clock is ticking.

Charlie got stuck in the morning (9am?), knew he had a bothersome stick at dinner (red, itching), went to bed but couldn't sleep? Turned on bedroom lights at 2am, to see a big blister formed. Called ambulance and started fighting to save his leg
5th

[bhl]

Originally Posted by 5th Tuition

On Monday night, I will be presenting a Power Point presentation on Mycobacterium marinum (fish handlers disease), MRSA (methicillin resistant Staph. aureus), and Vibrio (Vibrio vulnificus). The good news is that I have someone from the State Health Dept. coming as well. My area of expertice is with Myco. only. I have a general background and can answer some questions about MRSA and Vibrio, but Dr. David Blythe, assistant director of the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Outbreak Response, will be there to answer questions.
I have called in some favors (from my years of working with DHMH) to get Dr. Blythe (or a representative) to appear at our meeting.
We all know of Tawn's and Charlie's infections this summer. Tawn will be at the meeting to give an account of his experience. Charlie wishes he could be available, but he is receiving skin grafts this week on his legs. Keep Charlie in your prayers, he still has a way to go until full recovery.

Rick, from Fishoff Gloves will be there at my request. He will be selling his gloves. They are a great option for preventing some of these infections.

Capt. John Whittman will be there selling his spoons, spreader bars, and umbrella's just in time for the Blues and Spanish Mackerel.

The MSSA meeting will be held at the American Legion Post #175. It is on Manhattan Beach Rd, Severna Park, Md. 21146. Doors open at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7:30pm. Please try to attend.
5th (Marty)

Marty,
Thanks for the presentation and for lining up Dr. Blythe. I learned alot and I thought it was interesting that soap and water would be the best solution to wash out a wound. I am fortunate enough to have running water on my boat so it makes it easy for me. I also scored a new pair of gloves from Rick.

bhl (Bruce)

[5th Tuition]

Bruce, I too was surprised that soap & water was preferred. I'm from the Tim Allen (Tim the Toolman Taylor) vein, I think bigger (stronger) is better.
Dr Blythe doesn't do much fishing, if any at all. His thought process is that flushing the wound with soap and water, will not cause any additional trauma to the skin surrounding the wound. Stronger solutions (alcohol, Betadine, bleach) will do this.
Additionally, he says to leave the wound open to the air. Do not cover it with an antiseptic cream and a bandage. Doing this, exposes the fisherman to anaerobic organisms (those not needing oxygen to replicate). These anaerobic organisms are dangerous as well.
On my boat, I may only have bottle water available. I can see flushing the wound with water, but then I might cover it (bandaid) because I'm continually dipping bait, and keeping my hands in harms way.
Today, I had a hook rip a gash in my finger. I used soap & water, then a clean paper towel to put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. I went right back to "mateing". I couldn't quit, go sit down and say I was done for the day
My hand stayed wet all morning
I probably would have felt better with Betadine poured over the area as extra protection
Dr Blythe probably deals with people who injure themselves, get treatment, and go home for the rest of the day
I did find his Q & A session informative and thought provoking.
5th

[Skip]

I'm leaning towards 68% internal alcohol content to ward off these nasty germs


Marty , excellent presentation - think everyone there learned something.