Transmitting disease to humans?

[classicsredone]

Not sure where to put this, so I'm putting it here for now. Mods, please move if it belongs somewhere else.

I was in the ER a two days ago, and had an IV for medication and fluids. They stuck me for blood, and then it took three painful, digging around type sticks to get a vein. I think it might have infiltrated some. I slept most of the next day because we were up all night, and woke up this morning (about 1.25 days after the IV was put in) with swollen, sore hand. By this afternoon, it was pink and streaking, but no fever. I went to urgent care and got antibiotics in case it was an infection. Two hours later, the red area had spread and was getting hot.

Here's where the chickens come in. We called urgent care back to make sure it was okay to keep with the plan to take antibiotics at home and watch for 12 hours. If worse, go to ER, of course. The nurse heard our chickens in the background, and asked if I touched them since I got the IV. Well, yeah, I did. I changed the food and water, and picked one up to say hi really quickly before I went back to bed. I keep them clean, the brooder is clean, they get probiotics, and I keep myself clean. She said just touching the chickens raised my risk of septicemia, and that we really need to watch the arm for 12 hours.

Is it really that much more of a risk? I know that chickens can carry diseases with symptoms, but at that point, the wounds would have been scabbed and dry.

 

[chickened]

I'm no doctor but sounds like blood poisoning. I'd get it checked out.

 

[classicsredone]

Oh I did - We went to urgent care immediately after noticing the streaking. They think it was the start of an infection and I'm on strong antibiotics. I don't have much of a fever, just 99.4 or so. I should have a high fever and a lot of pain if it goes to septicemia.

My question is that are chicks really that much of a risk when you have a small, scabbed over wound? I don't think the chicks have anything to do with it.

 

[BrattishTaz]

It is not disease that is the problem, it is bacteria. If your skin is not "intact" and your immune system is not 100%, the normal bacteria your chickens carry around with them can cause you to get an infection. The same would apply to dogs, cats, kids, dirty pond water, etc... It does not mean your animals are not well cared for.

 

[chickened]

I would not think so. I have a book that tells most diseases transmitted by chickens and they are very few and rare.

 

[classicsredone]

Would the most common be E. Coli and Salmonella? If I remember right, even healthy chickens can be carriers, but they shed the disease more during times of stress. (Btw- My immune system is actually pretty good. I was in there for muscle spasms that make me walk like Qausimodo.)

 

[chickened]

Salmonella is one but it is so prevalent in the world that you would have it if your immune system was compromised. I take cyclobenzaprine for muscle spasms by the way and they really help.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
I have seen a lot more E Coli infections than Salmonella in humans. If fact we had E. Coli + patients daily and only 1 Salmonella + in two years. You are much more likely to get a bacterial infection.

 

[classicsredone]

Woohoo! The redness is down five hours or so after starting antibiotics. Looks like it was the start of a bacterial infection from the IV. I doubt the chickens were a part of this. Thanks for the help.