[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE:Using antibiotoics on your cyanobacteria
> Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 18:59:44 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Raymond Chan <rchan at husc_harvard.edu>
> Subject: Using antibiotoics on your cyanobacteria
>
> I have seen posted here that people have been using antibiotics to treat
> their cyanobacteria. The problem is that if you don't eradicate it, it
> comes back resistant.
>
> This is bad. Not only does it ruin your fishtank, but it could pose
health
> threats to you and your family. The cyanobacteria can and will
eventually
> pass on any resistance to any antibiotics that it has to other more nasty
> bacteria. So, when your kid gets that ear infection that is resistant to
> erythromycin, kanamycin, and whatever else you use in your tank, you know
> why.
>
> Continued misuse of antibiotics is a big problem that needs to be
> curtailed immediately.
>
> Raymond Chan
While I agree that antibiotic resistance is a serious health threat, I
don't want people to panic and think that by using erythromycin in their
tanks, they are going to catch some horrible disease such as Staphylococcus
aureus or VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci) which have received a lot
of media attention. The pathways through which erythromycin resistant
cyanobacteria could transfer that resistance to other gram-negative
bacteria are quite complex. Using simple common-sense procedures such as
simply washing our hands thoroughly after working in and around the tank,
we can reduce the risk of any type of infection.
I'm not trying to condone irresponsible use of antibiotics; I just don't
want people thinking that if a family member suddenly develops some kind of
infection which is not helped immediately by the standard antibiotic
treatment that the fish-tank is to blame.
If anyone wants further resources on antibiotic resistance, let me know.
Regards,
Farzan.
------------------------------------------------------
Farzan S. Farzan at IBM_net
------------------------------------------------------
All men die. Not all men truly live! - Braveheart
======================================================