Fatal vibrio parahemolyticus septicemia in a patient with cirrhosis : a case report and review of the literature

Vibrio parahemolyticus has been well documented to cause outbreaks of infectious diarrhea, usually related to poor food handling; only rarely has it been reported to cause fetal septicemia. In contrast, Vibrio vulnificus is a well-known cause of septicemia, especially in patients with cirrhosis. A 3...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Digestive diseases and sciences 1995-06, Vol.40 (6), p.1257-1260
Main Authors: HALLY, R. J, RUBIN, R. A, FRAIMBOW, H. S, HOFFMAN-TERRY, M. L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Decapoda (Crustacea)
Emergencies
Fatal Outcome
Female
Foodborne Diseases - diagnosis
Foodborne Diseases - etiology
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Hepatitis C - complications
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - complications
Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas
Medical sciences
Ostreidae
Other diseases. Semiology
Sepsis - diagnosis
Sepsis - etiology
Vibrio Infections - diagnosis
Vibrio Infections - etiology
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
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Summary:Vibrio parahemolyticus has been well documented to cause outbreaks of infectious diarrhea, usually related to poor food handling; only rarely has it been reported to cause fetal septicemia. In contrast, Vibrio vulnificus is a well-known cause of septicemia, especially in patients with cirrhosis. A 31-year-old woman with cirrhosis who developed fatal V. parahemolyticus sepsis after ingesting raw seafood is described. We review the clinical syndromes associated with sepsis caused by these two organisms. Leg pain and bullous skin lesions may be a clue to the diagnosis. Febrile patients with cirrhosis should be questioned regarding recent seafood ingestion, and appropriate antibiotics chosen if this history is obtained. Physicians should inform patients at risk to avoid raw seafood in an attempt to prevent this potentially lethal syndrome.
ISSN:0163-2116
1573-2568
DOI:10.1007/BF02065534