Marine noncholera Vibrio infections in Florida.

In the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases of clinical illness from noncholera (marine) vibrio infections, leading to a greater recognition of this potentially lethal disease. The wide spectrum of pathogenicity of this organism is reflected in the six cases in this report, varying from simple gastroenteritis to focal necrotizing cellulitis to fatal septicemia. We have reviewed the fundamental clinical differences between Vibrio vulnificus and other noncholera vibrio infections. Physicians treating patients with a history of exposure to coastal waters and/or seafood should be aware of the clinical features and the potential for significant morbidity and mortality of associated Vibrio vulnificus infections.