Vibrio vulnificus infection

 Awareness post

Vibrio vulnificus infection is a life-threatening bacterial infection, usually caused by marine bacteria.

It can be especially fatal for people with diabetes or liver disease.

🧍‍Md. Rafiq, age 55, has been suffering from diabetes for a long time. While traveling to Cox's Bazar, he enjoyed the sea water and ate some sea fish fry. Then within a day, he developed body pain, swollen hands and feet, and red sores. It spread quickly, fever and body swelling. Then he saw a doctor, and after examination, he was diagnosed with — Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Let us tell you today about 🦠 Vibrio vulnificus Infection – causes, symptoms, treatment and remedies.

⚠️ What is Vibrio vulnificus infection:

Vibrio vulnificus is a type of Gram-negative, halophilic (salt-loving) bacteria, which lives in salty sea water.

It can cause wound infection, septicemia (blood infection) and gastroenteritis (diarrhea) in humans.

🌊 Why is it, because:

People are usually infected in two ways 👇

1. 🦶 Wound infection:

👉 Contact with seawater or raw fish/oysters through cut or wounded skin.

👉 Especially those who cut crabs, shrimp, hilsa or marine fish, if they have small wounds on their hands, they are easily infected. People with diabetes easily get this bacteria into their bodies.

2. 🍤 Foodborne infection:

👉 Eating raw or insufficiently cooked seafood (especially raw oysters or oysters).

🎯 Risk factors:

🩸 Liver disease (Cirrhosis, Hepatitis).

🩸 Diabetes mellitus.

Immunocompromised (weak immune system).

👴 Elderly people (elderly).

🌊 Sea professionals, fishermen or fish handlers.

🎯 Symptoms:

1️. Wound infection:

🔹 Pain, redness, and swelling around the wound.

🔹 Rapidly spreading soft tissue infection (cellulitis).

🔹 Blisters or bullae form.

🔹 Can progress to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh rot).

🔹 Fever, chills, and pain.

2️. Foodborne:

🔹 Fever, abdominal pain, vomiting.

🔹 May cause bloody diarrhea.

3️. Septicemia:

🔹 Sudden onset of fever, chills, and low blood pressure.

🔹 Black spots or sores form on the skin.

🔹 Rapid septic shock and death can occur (mortality rate is about 50%).

🧪 Diagnosis:

1. Blood, wound, or stool culture:

To identify Vibrio vulnificus.

2. Gram stain: Gram-negative curved rods are seen.

3. Biochemical test / PCR test – to confirm the correct species.

💊 Treatment:

1️. Antibiotics:

➡️ Treatment should be started immediately (delay increases the risk of death).

2️. Wound care:

🔹 Debridement or removal of infected tissue.

🔹 Amputation may be necessary in severe cases.

3️. Supportive care:

🔹 IV fluids, Oxygen, and Blood pressure support.

🏡 Prevention:

1. Do not go into the sea with cuts or wounds.

2. Do not eat raw or undercooked seafood.

3. Wash hands and feet – after handling fish or marine animals.

4. Be especially careful if you have diabetes or liver disease.

5. Wear gloves when working on boats or at the beach.

💬 Awareness message:

Vibrio vulnificus is a ‘silent killer’.

This can be fatal, especially for diabetics or liver patients.

So, even small wounds are not negligible — be careful when exposed to the sea.