Interesting topic, and although I would hardly argue with any medical professionals, M.D.'s in particular, I have to agree that hygeine and a well maintained immune system is key to preventing such horrible infections. I've been a Plumber for 30 years and without going into explicit detail, we get into some compromising situations as it relates to water that is less than clean. I am a firm believer that we (as Americans) should avoid using anti-biotics everytime we get a sniffle or cough. There certainly are times when these drugs are needed to clear infectious disease and that's fine but we need to be careful because your body loses it's ability to fight off certain bacterial infections when the immune system is weakend. Two seasons ago, I sliced the soul of my foot from end to end on an oyster bed while kayak fishing for Reds down in VA, I used what I had in my on-board first aid kit to clean and dress the wound and it healed in a few days. The following summer I sliced the side of my left calf open on some barnacles attached to a rock jetty in MD landing a fish, followed the same basic first aid procedures and it also healed quickly. It is said that some of the bacteria in the Marine enviroment is worse than anything we can imagine in our fresh water habitat. Bottom line is: Use good common sense while wet wading and carry at the very least, a pocket size first aid kit with anti-bacterial wipes and ointment along with bandages.
Jeff
