Four Cases of Vibrio vulnificus Infection

Chung, Hwan Gyo; Lee, Chong Seong; Kim, Kwang Joong; Lee, Chong Ju

Abstract

We recently noticed four cases of Vibrio(V.) vulnificus infection from July, 1985 to September, 1985. The V. vulnificus was isolated by culture from the necrotizirig skin bullae in three cases, blood culture in two cases, and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) in one case. The clinical characteristics of V. vulnificus infection in our cases was as follows: 1)All patients were men with their age over forties and the outbreak of the disease was during the summer season. 2) It was suspected that all patients had the previous hepatic problems. 3) The skin lesions showing bullae in three patients and subcutaneous nodules in one patient were noticed. 4) Two patients were showed positive in blood culture and one of thern also showed positive in lesional skin, urine and CSF. Lesional skin culture showed positive in three patients. 5) The isolated v. ulnificus was sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin and cefobid. 6) Two patients died due to sepsis within 48 hours after liospitalization and one patient died due to hepatic failure.