Aquarium and pseudomonas

Question

(a)We have an aquarium at home. Does it impose a risk, as far as pseudomonas is concerned? Should I get rid of it, or can I take precautions?

(b)What can I do, as far as cleaning the house is concerned, in order to limit the chances of my kid getting infected, at least at home? I would like to give me examples, not general advice. What must I use, where, how and when.

(c)Except for pseudomonas (antibiotics), secretions (physiotherapy), nutrition (enzymes) what else do these kids suffer from?

Answer

Dear friend,

(a) As there is hardly any data about the contamination of home aquariums with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or other CF-specific germs, the risk of an infection for CF patients cannot be quantified and a satisfiying answer is not possible. On the one hand, infections with P. aeruginosa via an aquarium have not been described, but in general in case of a CF patient colonized with P. aeruginosa, it is very rare that the source of infection can be determined at all. On the other hand, water temperature and water quality of an aquarium can present a reservoir for growth of a humid germ like P. aeruginosa. So even if the risk of aquiring P. aeruginosa from an aquarium is potentially very small, it cannot be excluded. Therefore, the general recommendation for CF patients is to avoid contact to an aquarium as a potential source of infection with P. aeruginosa and atypical mycobacteria (cases of Mycobactrium marinum have been described). If a family with a CF child does not want to abandon the aquarium, certain precautions should be taken in order to minimize the risk of infection; e.g. CF patients should strictly avoid to clean the aquarium themselves, resp. to change the water. The risk of infection by inhaling aerosols produced by bubbling water from the aquarium can be reduced if they are not installed in the bedroom/room of the CF patient.

(b) As for part b of your question I refer you to the answer provided by Dr. Yann Kerneur (24.03.2011) in the central archive of Ecorn.

(c) Concerning the symptoms of CF, very diverse symptoms can occur, including 4 organ systems: the airways (e.g. chronic cough and frequent infections of the airways), the gut (e.g. digestive problems, eating much and gaining little weight, abdominal pain, fatty stools, problems secondary to loss of fat soluble vitamins), the sweat gland (e.g. dehydration due to salt loss) and the reproductive system (male infertility). Often many symptoms are present simultaneously.



Yours friendly,

Dr. Stavros Doudounakis and Dr. Daniela d'Alquen

02.07.2012

25.6.12 The above mentioned question about hygiene at home can be found under the following link:
ecorn-cf.eu/index.php?id=65&L=0&tx_expertadvice_pi1[showitem]=1175&tx_expertadvice_pi1[search]=hygiene%20at%20home

D. d'Alquen