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The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, Vol 13, Issue 3 197-200, Copyright © 2000 by American Board of Family Practice

ARTICLES

A case of fatal food-borne septicemia: can family physicians provide prevention?

G. Martin, A. M. Wright and K. Banakarim
Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, USA.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus, a common bacteria found in undercooked seafood and seawater, is the leading cause of food-borne death in Florida. Fatal cases of V vulnificus infection have also been reported in most states. METHODS: The literature was searched using the key words "Vibrio vulnificus," "septicemia," "wound infections," "seafood," "immunocompromise," and "patient education." A case of fatal V vulnificus septicemia is described. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: V vulnificus, part of the natural flora of temperate coastal waters and one of the most abundant microorganisms found in seawater, has been isolated from waters off the Gulf, Pacific, and Atlantic coasts of the United States. Infections in noncoastal regions have been traced to consumption of seafood derived from Gulf Coast waters. Seawater exposure and consumption of inadequately cooked seafood are routes most commonly associated with V vulnificus infection. Exposure to V vulnificus is life-threatening for chronically ill or immunocompromised patients, who are most likely to develop fatal septicemia. Currently a combination of doxycycline and intravenous ceftazidime is recommended treatment. Mortality rates from V vulnificus continue to be high in immunocompromised patients. Family physicians can help prevent this outcome by counseling high-risk patients.


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J. L. Powell, K. A. Strauss, C. Wiley, M. Zhan, and J. G. Morris Jr.
Inflammatory Cytokine Response to Vibrio vulnificus Elicited by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Chronic Alcohol Users Is Associated with Biomarkers of Cellular Oxidative Stress
Infect. Immun., July 1, 2003; 71(7): 4212 - 4216.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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