Vibrio vulnificus

Type: Parasite
Name: Vibrio vulnificus
Importance- to Body:
Cutaneous Infection
Distribution- in Body:
Skin; Cellulitis with bullous manifestations. Predilection in patients with liver disease.
Epidemiology: Curved, gram-negative rods
Food Sources:
Associated with fins of tilapia fish and common carp.
Environmental/Geographic Sources:
Requires saline environment to live. Manifestations occur within 7 days of exposure to seawater. Infection occurs April through October.
Diagonosis:
Microbiologic culture, Clinical history
Treatment:
First-line antimicrobial agents include cefotaxime and or ceftazidime, plus doxycycline. All quinolones, ceftriaxone cefepime, piperacillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin/ticarcillin/clavulanate, imipenem, and meropenem, Requires surgical incision and drainage. Antibiotic duration usually 4 weeks or longer.
Supplemental information:
Source: Cutaneous Manifestations Of Waterborne Infections by: Lucinda Elko, MD, RPh, Keith Rosenbach, MD, PhD*, and John Sinnott, MD