Vibrio parahemolyticus

Background

• Shellfish exposure, especially raw oysters
• Salt water contact with skin lesion

Vibrio species

• Vibrio cholerae
• Vibrio vulnificus
• Vibrio parahemolyticus

Clinical Features

• gastroenteritis > wound infection >> sepsis
• sepsis is rare, but typically occurs 7 to 48 hours after raw oyster ingestion => fever, chills, N/V, abd pain => shock, bullae => death in approx 55%

Management

• Gastroenteritis
  • Hydration (e.g. ORS)
  • Antibiotics (Floroquinolone OR doxycycline) only in severe or prolonged cases
  • Notify public health authorities if epidemic food-borne illness is suspected
• Sepsis, Wound Infections
  • Treat severe disease only
  • Floroquinolone OR doxycycline OR third-generation cephalosporin
  • Treat for 7 to 14 days
• Necrotizing Fasciitis
  • Emergent surgical consultation