Two Cases of Vibrio Infection and Sepsis in the Delaware Estuary

Authors

René Daniel, MD, Center for Human Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USAFollow
Joseph Yoo, MD, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalFollow
Roberto Fratamico, MD, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Robert Measley, MD, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative motile rods. Several species are pathogenic, including Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The interest in this genus is due to its extreme virulence and often fatal outcomes. In healthy patients, these infections are typically self-limited; however, in immunocompromised and cirrhotic patients, infections can result in bacteremia, which has a high fatality rate1. Both pathogens may cause acute gastroenteritis, necrotizing wound infections, and if severe, subsequent bacteremia. In this report, we present two cases of Vibrio infections recently identified in the Delaware River Estuary that resulted in severe sepsis and, in one case, death.

Recommended Citation

Daniel, MD, René; Yoo, MD, Joseph; Fratamico, MD, Roberto; and Measley, MD, Robert (2016) "Two Cases of Vibrio Infection and Sepsis in the Delaware Estuary," The Medicine Forum: Vol. 17, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29046/TMF.017.1.013
Available at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/tmf/vol17/iss1/12