Korean J Med.  2009 Nov;77(5):649-653.

Autopsy case: Vibrio vulnificus sepsis confirmed by autopsy

• Lee SJ
• Jo GR
• Huh GY

Abstract

Vibrio vulnificus primary septicemia is a serious illness associated with high mortality rates and is caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked shellfish. Most patients admitted with V. vulnificus infection are immunocompromised or have an underlying disease, such as liver cirrhosis or hemochromatosis. In contrast, the authors experienced an uncommon case in which a patient with no known underlying disease rapidly progressed to sepsis with hypotensive shock, followed by death within a few hours. Based on a postmortem examination, tissue cultures, and blood cultures, it was determined that the patient had been infected with V. vulnificus and had chronic liver disease. There are no reports in Korea on the clinicopathological findings of V. vulnificus infection. Here, we present the case of a patient with V. vulnificus septicemia and describe the associated clinical symptoms and clinicopathological findings discovered upon autopsy.

Keyword

Autopsy; Sepsis; Vibrio vulnificus

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Eating
Hemochromatosis
Humans
Korea
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver Diseases
Sepsis
Shellfish
Shock
Vibrio
Vibrio vulnificus