Update....Hot tub infection...

[maryheather]

Just thought I would update everyone, and give you a little info...FYI.  
I posted earlier last week about something called "hot tub rash" and a few of you responded.  TY.
However...never, ever, ever get in a public hot tub!!!  I cannot stress this enough.  My daughter and husband got in a hot tub at a very nice, expensive, brand new hotel last weekend.  They played for a few days, in and out of the pool/hot tub, and then on the way home on Sunday, we noticed that they both had a strange rash.
Well...my husband spent the entire week in the hospital, and my daughter was at the ER 2x, and they wanted to admit her...but I begged them to give her one more day on the new antibiotic.  (They were both on 2 different oral antibiotics before anything worked.)
They caught a bacterial infection called pseudomonas folliculitis...and then staph on top of all of that.  It was disgusting.  There was another family travelling with us, and 4 out of 5 members of their family got the infection, along with an entire youth group from TN!!
The bacteria was raging through their bodies, and it was resistant to almost every antibiotic.  The only one that worked was Vancomycin (IV med).  
So, extremely long, painful, scarring story....never get in a hot tub.  It is disgusting, and my husband/daughter were in serious danger.  

Please tell everyone you know that hot tubs should be checked for chemical levels every 2 hours...and just don't get in it if it doesn't belong to you.  

I missed being on the forum, and life is back to normal...so I'm back now.  

Thanks to all who posted!
MH

[rnwithld]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and trying to educate people about the risks of infections from public hot tubs.

I contracted Legionnaires disease from a poorly maintained hot tub at a very nice hotel in California in 2001.  I have been trying to educate people too.  

Visit my newsvine site to see more information: http://rnwithld.newsvine.com/

You can email me from this site.

Stacy Intille RN

[gonza]

Where were you if you dont mind me asking.  I know that you and i had corresponded before that we are both from the same city.

[gonza]

good luck with everything.  a hotel should definitly be held responsible for keeping the hot tub bacteria free.  yuck!

[maryheather]

We were at a hotel in TN.  I don't want to say specifically--we have potential litigation in progress.  Just suffice it to say that you don't need to get in a public hot tub...ever!!!!
Be careful--our dermatologist told us that it is never a safe option.

[Bipp]

maryheather- would it be ok with you if I sent your posting through e-mail to some people I know? I have always had a phobia about hot tubs etc. but haven't had a problem occur. This story will just reiterate to me that I have every reason to be cautious. Thank you for sharing your story.

[maryheather]

Jo--yes it was the hot tub, because that amount of bacteria would thrive in the heat of the jacuzzi.  My son and I were in the pool, and had no infection at all.  Same for the others involved.  We called the TN health dept, but by the time they got out to check it, the hotel had already drained the pool and hot tub.  Oh well--We have enough cultures/biopsies to prove anything we need, plus the expertise of about 10 doctors...none of whom could believe how sick my family had gotten from this.

Have a great day, all.
MH

[who_is_this]

MH, I'm so relieved to hear that everything is ok.  Important lesson learned.

[maryheather]

I'm cracking up that the ads at the bottom of this page are for hot tubs!!!  I guess they advertise based on content of the message....how ironic.  MedHelp...forgive me.  I'm just laughing at the irony of it all.  

Bye all--

[JoAnnaRF]

Heather,
I am SO glad that things are returning to normal for you. It's about time!! I pray they continue to get better and better!
And YES I sure hope you contacted the hotel to keep others from getting sick. A youth group?? OMG That's a lot of people. Did you trace it to the Hot tub or the Pool? Either way, I will take your advice and NEVER set foot in a hot tub!
*hugs*
JoAnna

[maryheather]

Please, share this with as many people as you can.  This is something that everyone needs to be aware of.
Thanks for responding.

[MandaJo111]

I am so glad they are better now.  When I took Layne to his ENT last week he asked if we would be going swimming this summer.  I told him..NO WAY...not after what all you guys have been through.  

Amanda

[baby4Staci]

i am glad that you are bringing awareness to this.  Did you inform the hotel like others suggested?? I am very happy that your husband and daughter are better now..!!

Thanks for the warning!!