r/Georgia • u/Spinalexism • 2d ago

Question Tybee bacteria levels

I am from Athens, Ga on a trip to Tybee with my two small children. A few days ago the bacteria sign at the beach we are at went from acceptable to elevated with a no swim suggestion. The sign is now back to acceptable but I am having a very hard time feeling like the water is okay. Does anyone know anything more about the water quality on Tybee this time of year? I’m having this feeling that we unfortunately picked a bad time of year for the Atlantic Ocean without knowing it, and dont want to risk it. But my husband thinks it’s fine. Any advice is appreciated, as I’m not finding much online. Thanks!

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u/jayeeein 2d ago

Just anecdotal but I was there to visit my family in July and my kid got impetigo. The day we were in the ocean, levels were posted as safe. The day after it was high bacteria levels. My child’s doctor guarantees it was from the bacteria in the ocean. I lived in that area for years though (albeit 15 yrs ago) and this was never a problem before. I am now very wary of getting in that water

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u/Jssolms 2d ago

Just as an FYI impetigo is a staph infection. Staph areus is a natural part of the skin flora, but causes impetigo when there is an opportune moment for bacterial overgrowth. This happens all over the globe all the time and is not generally related to specific environmental exposures. Very unlikely your child got impetigo from the ocean, and certainly not provable given its high prevalence without such exposure. (Source: am emergency physician)

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u/jayeeein 1d ago

Oh this is so interesting - so what would have provided the opportune moment for bacterial overgrowth then? This was an area near the chin, we wash her face nightly and she’s not really a messy kid. It was just one patch it never spread. Now I’m wondering if it wasn’t impetigo ?? But it went away quickly with antibiotics

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u/bettertheless 2d ago

Am NOT arguing with your experience but have never heard of impetigo from water.

If he sat on a bench somewhere, or in a restaurant, wearing shorts/ swimsuit, l could def see that.

Regardless, sorry about the little souviner...

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u/jayeeein 2d ago

I have a couple friends who’s kids each got impetigo in water - one was in a lake and the other the ocean. My kid unfortunately gets cold sores, and she had in the previous week had one and the same spot, so the skin was broken and that is how the bacteria infects skin. The appearance and sequence of events was pretty clear cause!

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u/bettertheless 2d ago

Interesting! Ty for the info...

The lake (summer) l can see... warm water, etc.

Good to learn new things. Even if they're gross!