Severe soft tissue infection, presumed related to rental wetsuit

[uncfnp]

Basic question here...is Woolite or Tide safe for washing wetsuits?

I know you’re not supposed to store wetsuits in the sun but I suppose an hour of direct sun exposure after it’s already dry wouldn’t hurt? As a previous poster noted, UV kills germs.

Baby shampoo was my first choice although there are also marketed wetsuit shampoos. As I got less picky any shampoo would do. Then I read that some people will even wash their neoprene in a front load washer with various detergents and now I sometimes do this myself. I think the greater risk with this, especially with top load washers, is abrasion damage during a high spin cycle. I have a front loader and use the gentle cycle that has a low velocity spin. You can even add Dettol to the wash.

When on vacation and if you have access to a small fan, directing it toward the hanging suits can help immensely in the drying time. I have even cut the ends from plastic bottles and placed them in my booties to hold them open and pointed toward a fan.

I really think the importance of a timely shower with a brisk scub as soon as possibly after the dive is one of the most important steps, especially for divers that rent suits. If you are really concerned then use Hibiclens then too.

 

[uncfnp]

My first thought was impetigo, a nasty skin infection (Strep and Staph) that is more common in children but can also infect adults - but I didn't offer to do a culture!

Folliculitis but generally the same pathogens except add pseudomonas and fungus to the list.

Walk down to the ED and they can get you something to culture if it’s anything like our ED. Nurse mentioned to me that pretty much all the abscesses they see are MRSA.

Twenty years ago MRSA was about a third of the abscesses I saw. Then it seemed to be about half. Now its approaching 100 percent of abscesses that require I&D at our facility.

 

[tridacna]

I’m no expert here but I’ve always used a wetsuit shampoo then a cleaner containing a live enzyme which allegedly continues to munch at residual bacteria while the wetsuit dries. It would be useful if a manufacturer like GearAid would chime in here with some confirmation.

A few years ago, we had a delivery of Mirazyme left outside by UPS for a few hours in -20 weather. MCNetts called us and replaced all the Mirazyme claiming that the cold killed the active enzymes.

 

[uncfnp]

I started with Mirazyme then tried Sink the Stink. Over the years I have also used Dettol, mouthwash without alcohol and even spray pet order eliminators. I have to say my favorite, especial for a quick mid week dip during a trip, is the mouthwash, easy to get, cheap and leaves a nice scent.

 

[cburgert]

Now this has me thinking of other gear such as regs. Would it be possible to contract oral herpes ( cold sores and fever blisters ) from buddy breathing? I get sceaved out.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Now this has me thinking of other gear such as regs. Would it be possible to contract oral herpes ( cold sores and fever blisters ) from buddy breathing? I get sceaved out.

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has wondered about this specifically. I was always worried when I used to rent gear when I first started diving. I mean, I won’t even share food or beverage with anyone except my significant other and he shares the same rules. I just kept telling myself that the salt water’s salinity would make it unviable and went with that.

WHO published in late 2015:

“More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 – or 67% of the population – are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), according to WHO’s first global estimates of HSV-1 infection published today in the journal PLOS ONE”

That’s 1 out of 3 people!

Edited to add: sorry, not trying to fear monger...this thread just has me thinking about all the worst possibilities now because I didn’t think or imagine it would be possible to contract what the OP’s friend got.

 

[dmaziuk]

“More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 – or 67% of the population – are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1

That's OK, then, we're safe: when was the last time you saw a person under the age of 50 on a dive boat?

 

[outofofficebrb]

That's OK, then, we're safe: when was the last time you saw a person under the age of 50 on a dive boat?

Haha. Well, when I looked in the mirror....though some might argue I’m an old mind trapped in a young body. Actually, on my last dive trip, it was quite fun. We were a group of 15 or 16 on a liveaboard and most of the group was under 40. *the look of horror*

 

[Marie13]

From the Apeks website about the protection on its 2nd stages:

XTX50

• The 2nd stage is manufactured with active protection against infection as all molded parts are produced with an additive that kills MRSA, protects against E-Coli, bacteria and fungi, and is also very effective against viruses, mould, yeast and algae.

 

[Bubblesong]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has wondered about this specifically. I was always worried when I used to rent gear when I first started diving. I mean, I won’t even share food or beverage with anyone except my significant other and he shares the same rules. I just kept telling myself that the salt water’s salinity would make it unviable and went with that.

WHO published in late 2015:

“More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 – or 67% of the population – are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), according to WHO’s first global estimates of HSV-1 infection published today in the journal PLOS ONE”

That’s 1 out of 3 people!

Edited to add: sorry, not trying to fear monger...this thread just has me thinking about all the worst possibilities now because I didn’t think or imagine it would be possible to contract what the OP’s friend got.

But we don’t see people sporting cold sores all about the place, so I wonder who the WHO is sampling for their estimates?