When I was teaching master gardening classes I always warned the participants to use gloves when handling potting mixes, especially spaghnum. They can be full of harmful fungi. I just saw this post on FB, it seems a landscaper in NE Florida is fighting with a serious infection. Points out the need for caution and safety glasses too.

"Update on Joe! The dirt he got in his eye that has the fungus it has eaten his cornea and can be transmitted into his other eye if he was to touch the bad eye and then his good eye. This is some serious fungus. The surgeon said this is common and he sees this a lot from people who work any kind of landscaping. Joe was the beast and always went the extra mile for our clients. This isn't fair!
The poison has gotten to his brain. They have him on some serious antibiotics. And he must have surgery. Shands has a transplant on standby. Thank goodness for those who donate their organs. So now we are waiting to see what kind of health funding is available. We pray their is someone out their that will sponsor him. I am a organ donator. It's nice that many people donate their organs! Keep Joe in your prayers.
And if you know anyone in landscaping please share this story and to mention to wear safety glasses. I wouldn't want to wish this on anyone."

My gosh, I never wear goggles in the garden, that is kind of scary. I have had dirt fly in my eyes before. I have put some on when doing heavy trimming work, always got my gloves on, well almost always.

My good friend lost her sister to sepsis from working in the garden, she was only in her mid 50's. Apparently kitty soiled dirt got into a cut she had on her leg and got infected, she waited way too long to go to the hospital, they couldn't save the leg and had to amputate, but she never recovered and her organs shut down. She did have underlying health issues that probably caused her to not fight the infection.

It is scary. I am forever noticing a weed as I walk by a garden bed and reaching down to yank it then I notice a few more weeds while I am thinking of it. Then it is - Oops, I forgot gloves again. I will try to be more careful now.

I try to remember to always wear gloves when gardening but sometimes when I take a break, I remove my gloves and lay them aside and then go back to working without putting them back on. When working outside (gloves or no gloves) I do try hard not to touch my face or even brush hair from my face because I got poison ivy rash on my face once. I've come into contact with poison ivy a couple of times over the years and it's definitely no fun but I can't imagine getting it into my eyes like a fellow botanical garden volunteer did one year! She was working in an area where we had an issue with poison ivy and she apparently came into contact with the plants and at some point touched her face and eyes ... she ended up in the hospital!

While it won't protect you from fungus & some other things.........

Make sure you stay current on your tetanus shot!!!!

I actually had to argue with a doc once about him ordering one for me. He scoffed big time, laughed at me & acted like I was crazy. I was I got the shot, left the doc & found me a new doc!

Yes, tetanus shots are a good thing. My former doc, who knew I played in the dirt, always advised me to get one every 5 years just to be on the safe side. You have just reminded me to check when my last shot was. Thanks.

I guess we all tend to pull weeds here and there without gloves, hard not to do.

Ann, that is crazy, my doctor was the one who told me I needed to get a tetanus shot, I hadn't had one since I was a kid, I think he said every ten years you should get a booster.

I am always pulling leaves out of my bromeliads without gloves as I stroll around the garden, but once in awhile, you never know what is lurking in your plants.....

My doc was just being extra careful, there were miles and miles of tomato and watermelon fields where we lived and apparently tetanus was rampant there. Many of the cases were probably unvaccinated farm workers. I checked my records and had a tDap in '16, Diptheria, tetanus and pertussis.

I haven't had a Tetanus shot since I was very, very young. I don't recall my reaction to it but apparently it made me very sick and the Doc told my mom that it was an allergic reaction and advised against future Tetanus vaccines so I haven't had one since. My mother was also allergic to Tetanus.

@Ardesia Alice, I just found this thread and this is such a great reminder! I didn't know about fungus on spaghnum moss and I always touch spaghnum moss with bare hands when I rescue orchids.

And I always wear gloves but sometimes forget to put it back after taking it off.

ardesia …. That is quite a heart breaking story.

That reminds me that a newly discovered rare fungus has been found in Douglas fir trees in Oregon Washington and Vancouver. This fungus is harmful and has sickened more than 200 people .
More info here. https://www.oregonlive.com/new...

bumplbea said: ardesia …. That is quite a heart breaking story.

That reminds me that a newly discovered rare fungus has been found in Douglas fir trees in Oregon Washington and Vancouver. This fungus is harmful and has sickened more than 200 people .
More info here. https://www.oregonlive.com/new...

Oh my, one more thing to be concerned about. Orchid growers use a lot of fir bark.

It's always a good idea to clean tools with alcohol. Keep clothing and gloves clean. And notify the agency in your area if you suspect any of the trees in your area are infected.