Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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LNT no longer teaches the smear on a rock technique.
Well, no doubt they do.
but they are purists, concerned with only one thing in their purity.
They are not concerned with health outcomes. They are not staffed with medical professionals. They don't take into account various public health issues.
But anyway, it wasn't the point of the post, which was the infectivity of feces, and how long it remained infective. (which you might consider is considerable, in that plastic bag, or trash can)
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roadkillphil
Trad climber
Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2012 - 05:57pm PT
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Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. Getting better every day. Besides the hygiene issues the life lesson I'm (re)learning is that if you're thinking of doing something sometime, best to make that time sooner rather than later.
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BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
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A buddy of mine got a simple blister on his heel and ended up nearly losing his foot over this. It was totally sick looking for a couple of months until the mega antibiotics finally killed it.
The doc said that our skin is covered with staph at all times, and he could have avoided it with prompt soap and water.
It was wild. Totally changed my opinion of simple blisters or cuts.
My general hygiene level has never been all that great, as many can attest.
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roadkillphil
Trad climber
Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2012 - 10:58am PT
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Don't forget to soak those ratty, filthy shoes in bleach or something every once in a while...
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Dec 17, 2012 - 03:48pm PT
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My infection, mentioned above, could have been initiated either at Mt.
Woodson or at the local climbing gym. As soon as the symptoms became
unusual, I sought medical care. The Doc or PA who saw me immediately
suspected SA and thought that a community-acquired MRSA was likely, so he
put me on the appropriate antibiotic Clandomycin, I think, while my goo
was being cultured. I saw pictures of the agar-diffusion assay which
confirmed his diagnosis. That was pretty cool. I was fortunate to be put on the
course of antibiotics before waiting for the confirmation.
I also used Hibiclens for a while, and a topical antibiotic called
BactroBan in my nostrils. No complications, no recurrence. I think getting
the early treatment was critical.
The explosion of my carbuncle was after the course of antibiotics was
completed. Apparently I was not infective by that time.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Dec 17, 2012 - 10:55pm PT
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The doc said that our skin is covered with staph at all times, and he could have avoided it with prompt soap and water.
Word!
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Rockin' Gal
Trad climber
Boulder
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Dec 19, 2012 - 11:16am PT
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I had a staph infection near my elbow a couple months ago. Red, swollen, painful. Possibly entered through a small elbow abrasion that was a souvenir from Devils Tower. Intravenous anti-biotics for 3 days, luckily out-patient, before the oral meds kicked in.
I asked the doctor what I could do to prevent this, and she said, "Moisturize your elbows."
Apparently knees and elbows are the common places that the bacteria enters due to dry skin, scrapes, etc.
I added some neosporin to my climbing pack. Can't hurt.
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Snowmassguy
Trad climber
Calirado
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Dec 19, 2012 - 11:32am PT
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Here in CO, a 7 year old boy just passed from strep of all things. So sad..my boy played on a lacrosse team with the kid this past fall and I dont know what to tell my son. Concurrently, a girl in my daughters class just returned to school with drug resistant MRSA. Kind makes you a bit nervous. This stuff is everywhere these days.
My climbing wounds have always healed up nicely but I am way more careful now when cleaning and treating and cuts and scrapes.
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bjj
climber
beyond the sun
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Dec 19, 2012 - 01:39pm PT
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When I stopped climbing in 2003, I started taking wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed martial arts training.
Skin issues are fairly common in those sports, as you are rolling around on mats that get covered in whatever sweat / dirt / etc that is on anyone's body. You must be absolutely vigilant about cleaning and disinfecting them every single day, and not allowing shoes or any "street" clothing on them.
We kept our gym clean, so issues were at a minimum, but at other places with more lax standards, it was a common occurrence. I have seen ringworm, staph and full blown case of MRSA which ended up requiring lengthy hospital stays where large chunks of flesh would be removed, and massive long term antibiotics required to keep people from dying.
It's nasty stuff.
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FrankZappa
Trad climber
Hankster's crew
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Dec 19, 2012 - 03:30pm PT
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Got a heinous infection called erysipelas wile climbing in Monument basin. Without antibiotics it would have killed me.
Anyway, there is a fairly proud 5.11 tower waiting a (I think)second ascent if anyone is psyched. Needless to say, there is a fair bit of choss still up there....
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michaeld
Sport climber
Sacramento
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Dec 19, 2012 - 03:31pm PT
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I won't touch the crack at my gym unless i'm wearing gloves. You brush against it and get these terrible red rashes.
I've always wondered about staph outside in high populated masochism(crack) crags.
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