Vibrio vulnificus

Abstract

The importance of vibrio species other than Vibrio cholerae has only recently been appreciated. Vibrio parahaemolyticus has usually been associated with gastrointestinal tract infections although it may be a rare cause of soft tissue infection and septicemia. V alginolyticus is a rare cause of marine wound infections, otitis, and sepsis, and has not been associated with outbreaks of gastroenteritis. In 1976 Hollis et al1 described the characteristics of 38 isolates of a halophilic bacterium isolated from blood cultures (20), cerebrospinal fluid (2), and wound infections (16). Originally called Beneckea vulnifica, this organism was reassigned to the genus Vibrio and named V vulnificus by Farmer. It is a salt-requiring, marine vibrio that can be distinguished from other vibrio species by its ability to ferment lactose. V vulnificus is a particularly virulent organism that typically produces either primary septicemia that occurs after ingestion of raw shellfish, especially in patients with chronic liver disease, or a fulminating wound infection that occurs after exposure to seawater or handling of shellfish.