The person who develops skin sores (painful or not) after touching fish or other aquatic creatures during swimming, boating, cleaning fish tanks or aquariums, should seek medical attention; those with a compromised immune system should call their doctor immediately. Consult a doctor about treatment options, such as antibiotics, to ensure that the proper antibiotic is used to treat the specific bacterial cause of the sickness. The etiology of a person's fish handler's disease is diagnosed by cultivating the bacteria from the lesions. The PCR testing is done to identify the genetic material of bacteria or other organisms specific to the bacterial type involved. Some individuals may require long-term antibiotics up to 18 months as well as surgical excision to stop infection. A patient with Fishhandler's disease may occasionally require IV antibiotics.
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