7 replies to this topic

[damselfish]

I met someone who told me I shouldn't dive because a person they knew got "pneumonia" from breathing in E.Coli from a dirty air tank and almost died.
Sounds like B.S. to me. The air tank would be dry inside right? Maybe she caught someone elses "germs" by not washing the regs after someone used them?
I think it could have been from someone sneezing on the trip or something or the airplane and they are blaming it on the dive equipment.
Anyone heard of anything like that?
Anyway, I'll definately take my chances! At least I have my own equipment.
~ Damselfish

[Scubatooth]

hmmm i think there is alot of gray in this issue. It would be possible but i think theres more to it. Tank air for the most part is very dry so the bacteria doesnt grow to well, but then it depends on weather the tank has always had enough pressure to not allow anything back in it or something in the compressor or air(water, bacteria,etc) that is sending to the tank as contamination could happen as well.

The possibility (like you mentioned) was there the regs werent cleaned to well and it allowed some bacteria to grow that was then inhaled by the user next time they where used that could then cause pneumonia, but that depends. To combat this a little listerine through the regs should keep them minty fresh.

BTW I have been sickend by a tank after it was filled by a compressor putting very minute amounts of oil in the air. put i was able to recognize what was going on and get out of the water before it really got bad. you want to talk about a headache from H E double hockey sticks that cleared on its own w/o any oxygen. I had to have the tank and valve cleaned and it was amazing it didnt hurt me worse because it was like a thin coat of motor oil.

[shadragon]

According to the below source it is doubtful. I would suspect an airborne infection from the dive boat or something in the water before a bad fill were suspected. Besides if the bottle were pressurized to 3000 psi the bacterium would get DCS when the tank was breathed down, wouldn't they?

Respiratory tract infections due to E coli are uncommon and are almost always associated with E coli UTI (Urinary Tract Infections). No virulence factors have been implicated. E coli pneumonia may also result from microaspiration of upper airway secretions that have been previously colonized with this organism in severely ill patients; hence, it is a cause of nosocomial pneumonia. However, E coli pneumonia can also be community-acquired in patients who have underlying disease such as diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and E coli UTI. E coli pneumonia usually manifests as a bronchopneumonia of the lower lobes and may be complicated by empyema. E coli bacteremia precedes pneumonia and is usually due to another focus of E coli infection in the urinary or GI tract.

[pir8]

I got a few bridges for sale if you believe that one.

[Mermaid Lady]

a "person they knew"?

Sounds like an Urban Legend to me

[diverb0b]

I m selling the wellesey island bridge....oooooooooooooopppppppppps that your bridge......I m selling the hill island bridge ...any takers????????

[damselfish]

Sure why not. I'll take it. Anything to do with islands sounds good to me. Checks in the mail. ~ D

[diverb0b]

you ll get them for a great bargain price