gardening

[mima]

Hi,
It's been a long time since I have posted, so here's a quick intro before I get to my question.  I donated a kidney to my husband in December.  We are both doing great so far.  Life is starting to finally return to some semblance of normal. 
My question is regarding my husband doing some work in the garden.  I have read that certain fungi in the soil can be very dangerous for immunosupressed people.  At my 3 month checkup I asked the head surgeon and director of the kidney transplant program if it was ok for my husband to do gardening work.  He said he should wear gloves and a mask, and try not to shake up the soil too much.  My husband met with his post-transplant nephrologist today, who said it was not necessary, he could work in the garden without protection.  He gave the explanation that there are bacteria/viruses everywhere, so it's no big deal.  Now, I seem to think that it certainly wouldn't hurt to wear protection, and it might just help.  Whereas, my husband just seems to go with whatever his doctor said.  I'm wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this one way or the other, and if there is some kind of general consensus.
Thanks!

[kellyt]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I'd very interested in the answer you receive!  Congratulations on the transplant.  You're a wonderful person!

[okarol]

Hi Mima,
Congrats on the transplant! I am happy to hear you're both doing well!
Here's a related thread: "advice for transplant patient/gardening?" http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/care/msg0514413023920.html
Our doctor said it's basic common sense, don't handle chicken droppings used in compost (unless it's sterilized) or dig where pets may have relieved themselves, or inhale a bunch of dust or dirt.
This is from the Center for Disease Control: "Hand washing after gardening or other contact with soil might reduce the risk for cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis."
There are a lot of tips of "Recommendations to Help Patients Avoid Exposure to Opportunistic Pathogens" if you really want to freak yourself out here http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4810a2.htm but keep in mind it was written 8 years ago and patients are not taking as heavy a regime of immunosuppressants as they had in the past.
I just went to a garden talk today called "Tomatomania" and I am really inspired to grow lots of tomatoes this year!  I hope your husband enjoys the gardening!

[stauffenberg]

It is interesting that when the germ theory of disease and the recommendations of sterile medical procedures were first seriously addressed in the mid-19th century, conservative doctors raised the same objection as you have in your message, which is that since there are germs everywhere, what good does it do to take precautions against them?  The answer given at the time, which turned out to be the right answer, was that while there are indeed germs everywhere, it makes a big difference how many there are in any given area, so if you can minimize them around the person liable to be infected, that is worth doing.

[Falkenbach]

The literature given to me in hospital recommended the use of gloves and mask.

Of course there are germs everywhere, but soil is indeed high risk. Remember there is legionella to consider as well.

Hope you are both doing great, btw!