Thats terrible. Hope you get well soonest

I contracted septicemia once while putting away a live rock order. I scratched the back of my wrist on a rock and didn't even notice at first. It only took 6 hours for my whole arm to swell up. Once the veins in your arm turn red up to your elbow, you have to go to the hospital. They gave me doxycycline if I remember correctly.

Mycobacterium Marinum (tuberculosis) isn't the same as the T.B. humans get, but it can give you contact lesions. I had it on a finger for about a year. I know a few people that have contracted it. Doctors don't usually diagnose it because it's an exotic condition and even the aquarist doesn't make the connection. Isoniazid and Rifampin are effective cures.

Stingrays, certain tangs, lionfish, sea slugs, mushrooms, zoanthids, anemones, palythoa, and fire worms are just a few of the perils in our aquariums. Aquarium medications, additives, and salmonella are also a potential danger.

Rubber gloves are always a good idea.

Thanks so much for all your kind words. The tests are not back yet and the infection has spread and gotten worse.I will have to go to the hospital every night for antibiotics and tests :( will keep you posted.

Sherry

Thats pretty horrible. I am especially vulnerable to venom and stings (I was deadly allergic to bee stings) so I try to wear some kind of glove all of the time. My favorite are the simple disposable blue nitrile gloves because they dont puncture easily and I can still feel what I'm touching unlike with the coralife aquagloves. But if I'm playing with my lionfish the aquagloves make me feel the safest.