Pseudomonas

[zero_sports]

Hi,

I'm trying to find information about pseudomonas because I have a rash when using my spa since a few month and I am pretty sure it is the cause.
1- Is pseudomonas something that is introduce in the spa by someone or it is virtually everywhere ? I read somewhere about 10% of people having it on their skin ?
2- Can I get rid of it permanently or is it something you need to control with sanitizer like other bacteria ?
3- How chlorine resistant is it ? Can it survive a shock of 10 ppm 0 CYA for 48h ?

Thanks!

 

[Bperry]

Hi,

I'm trying to find information about pseudomonas because I have a rash when using my spa since a few month and I am pretty sure it is the cause.
1- Is pseudomonas something that is introduce in the spa by someone or it is virtually everywhere ? I read somewhere about 10% of people having it on their skin ?
2- Can I get rid of it permanently or is it something you need to control with sanitizer like other bacteria ?
3- How chlorine resistant is it ? Can it survive a shock of 10 ppm 0 CYA for 48h ?

Thanks!

Hey welcome, I’d first suggest ruling out more common causes of a rash by asking what your water test results are and how you sanitize the water.

Note that TFP doesn’t trust pool store test results or paper test strips. Since you you’re new I’d suggest reading through some of the TFP pool care articles to get idea of what it’s about. It’s very possible that you just have unsanitary water that’s causing a rash.

 

[PoolStored]

How old is the water?
What chemicals are you using to sanitize?
When you replaced the water, how did you purge and clean?
How are you testing your water and what were your latest results?

 

[Newdude]

Can I get rid of it permanently or is it something you need to control with sanitizer like other bacteria ?

Proper sanitation is key. You aren't enjoying a nice soak, you're making people soup. 2 people in a 400 gallon hot tub are the equivalent of 170 in my 34k gallon pool, and the pool swimmers are cooling down, not heating up. The swimmers are also not being exfoliated by 100 jets.

Before my hot tub I thought I was clean, fresh out of the shower with a clean suit on. But both me and the suit were loaded with residual detergents and conditioners. Add in sweat, body oils, bacteria, and unmentionables being scrubbed from certain places and yeah. People soup. It's no wonder hot tub rash is as common as it is.

You need a Test Kits Compared to check it daily. Then ensure you never fall below min FC.




Dose before you soak assuming you'll lose considerable FC during, (using recent loss from use), and SLAM after to wipe out the residuals, which are many in a hot tub. Check the next day to make sure you're still in the green, and we will never discuss your rashes again.

 

[RDspaguy]

Chemical and ph sensitivity is far more common than organics as a source of skin irritation. I'm not sure why you concluded it's pseudomonas, but I have my doubts. BTW, doctors, when presented with a strange rash after using a hot-tub, will almost always say "hot-tub rash", aka pseudomonas, without any evidence thereof. You have to make several office visits, and bring evidence of having ensured that it can't possibly be pseudomonas, to get serious consideration from most of them. There are a few threads about the struggles people have getting their issues resolved.

 

[zero_sports]

Hi,

It's my first post on the forum but i am actually reading on it since a year.

I didn't had any problem for the first months with the spa and I was doing everything wrong! All of a sudden, my problem started. Then I discover TFP and try everything right.

I got a taylor k-2006 test kit as recommended. I already ruled out many thing ( Flush with ahhsome, try TFP chloride method, try TFP bromide method, try with higher PH, try with lower PH, no MSP, etc... )

I even show the rash to my doctor and he told me it looked like hot tub folliculitis...

So it would help me a lot if someone can answer my question about pseudomonas because I'm really wondering if I need to sterilize the spa to get rid of it or to keep looking at other possible cause.

1- Is pseudomonas something that is introduce in the spa by someone or it is virtually everywhere ? I read somewhere about 10% of people having it on their skin ?
2- Can I get rid of it permanently or is it something you need to control with sanitizer like other bacteria ?
3- How chlorine resistant is it ? Can it survive a shock of 10 ppm 0 CYA for 48h ?

Some website recommend hardcore treatment but i'm worried to damage or bleach my hot tub. What do you think of this ?

Combatting Hot Tub Folliculitis - Remove Pseudomonas In Spa

Combat hot tub folliculitis effectively with these 3 easy steps for the removal of Pseudomonas bacteria in your residential hot tub.

aqua-tech.ca

Thanks!

 

[phonedave]

Hi,

It's my first post on the forum but i am actually reading on it since a year.

I didn't had any problem for the first months with the spa and I was doing everything wrong! All of a sudden, my problem started. Then I discover TFP and try everything right.

I got a taylor k-2006 test kit as recommended. I already ruled out many thing ( Flush with ahhsome, try TFP chloride method, try TFP bromide method, try with higher PH, try with lower PH, no MSP, etc... )

I even show the rash to my doctor and he told me it looked like hot tub folliculitis...

So it would help me a lot if someone can answer my question about pseudomonas because I'm really wondering if I need to sterilize the spa to get rid of it or to keep looking at other possible cause.

1- Is pseudomonas something that is introduce in the spa by someone or it is virtually everywhere ? I read somewhere about 10% of people having it on their skin ?
2- Can I get rid of it permanently or is it something you need to control with sanitizer like other bacteria ?
3- How chlorine resistant is it ? Can it survive a shock of 10 ppm 0 CYA for 48h ?

Some website recommend hardcore treatment but i'm worried to damage or bleach my hot tub. What do you think of this ?

Combatting Hot Tub Folliculitis - Remove Pseudomonas In Spa

Combat hot tub folliculitis effectively with these 3 easy steps for the removal of Pseudomonas bacteria in your residential hot tub.

aqua-tech.ca

Thanks!

That website looks like an ad scare tactic for Aqua-Tech services

To answer your questions
1. It is very common, all over the place.
2. Do you mean from your tub? Yes, it is just a bacteria. Good old chlorine will kill it. It will always be reintroduced, just like other bacterial, and it will get killed with proper sanitation. To get rid of it from your body, you just have to deal with it until your body kills it. My understanding is it is pretty antibiotic resistant. That is why it becomes an issue in hospitals if it infects other parts of your body like post surgery, or gets into your lunch.
3. Maybe, maybe not. Like many bacteria, pseudomonas can form a biofilm, which will protect it from chlorine. If you have a colony living in your pipes, then you may need to AhhSome purge, dump the water, and refill in order to get rid of it. If you have some free floating, then normal sanitation levels will get rid of it.

This is a much better read than that Aqua Tech site - Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Swimming Pool Water: Evidences and Perspectives for a New Control Strategy

And as others have said, are your SURE it is a pseudomonas infection you have? LOTS of other things in a hot tub can cause a rash. Are you using MPS (non Chlorine Shock or Oxygen Shock)?

 

[Newdude]

The 0 CYA you mentiomed is another possible issue. Without CYA buffering the chlorine, 3 or 4 ppm FC would be harsh on the skin.

While covered spas and indoor pools don't need the UV protection it offers, we reccomend 20 to 30 CYA for bather comfort.

 

[zero_sports]

Thanks for yours answers! I will keep looking... might be something else.