Vibrio Vulnificus (Cont.)

 
Wound Infections
Symptoms of a wound infection include swelling, redness, and pain at the site of the wound -- these symptoms can progress to affect the whole body (cellulitis). Blood-tinged, blistering skin lesions can also occur from this Vibrio vulnificus infection. Fever is also common.
 

Diagnosing Vibrio Vulnificus

In order to make a Vibrio vulnificus diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam to look for signs of a Vibrio vulnificus infection. If the doctor suspects Vibrio vulnificus, he or she may recommend a microbiologic culture of the wound (a blood culture); the doctor may recommend a stool culture in the case of patients who consumed raw or undercooked seafood.
 

Treatment for Vibrio Vulnificus

Because of the seriousness of a Vibrio vulnificus infection, treatment may be started before the results of the cultures are known. When an infection is suspected, Vibrio vulnificus treatment uses a combination of a third-generation cephalosporin (e.g., ceftazidime) and doxycycline antibiotics.
 
Vibrio vulnificus wound infections should be treated with aggressive attention to the wound site; amputation of the affected limb is sometimes necessary.
 

Vibrio Vulnificus: Prognosis

Vibrio vulnificus infection is an acute illness, and those who recover should not expect long-term consequences. However, Vibrio vulnificus infections are fatal about 40 percent of the time. Wound infections from Vibrio vulnificus are fatal about 20 percent of the time. Aggressive surgical treatment can prevent death in a number of cases.
 

Vibrio Vulnificus: Summary

It is important to remember these facts about Vibrio vulnificus:

 

  • Vibrio vulnificus have a natural reservoir in the brackish (salt) waters along the coast. They particularly thrive in warm, subtropical waters.
     
  • The most common route of Vibrio vulnificus infections is from eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially raw oysters, harvested from those waters.
     
  • Vibrio vulnificus infections are seasonal, with a peak in the late summer and early fall, coinciding with the warmest water temperatures.
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD