Vibrio vulnificus infection--report of 8 cases and review of cases in Taiwan.

Vibrio vulnificus infection, which is a rare and fatal disease, can be categorized clinically as either primary septicemia or wound infection. The clinical presentation of patients with primary septicemia can vary from fever alone to a more severe illness including high-grade bullous lesions, hypotension, and shock. Wound infection typically results from either injury to the skin in a marine environment or contact of a preexisting wound with sea water. We reported eight cases with Vibrio vulnificus infection in Chang gung Memorial Hospital and reviewed ten other cases previously reported with details in Taiwan. Fourteen patients presented with primary septicemia, and four with wound infection. Thirteen patients had alcoholism or chronic liver disease, two had peptic ulcer disease, one was steroids abuser, and one patient had thalassemia and chronic liver disease. Overall mortality was 55.6% (ten patients). Patients with hypotension within 48 hours of admission had higher mortality than normotensive patients (77% vs. 0%, P = 0.007). Patients with chronic liver disease or liver cirrhosis also had tendency to a higher mortality than not (64% vs. 25%, P = 0.274). Chronic liver diseases and liver cirrhosis are common disease in Taiwan. They take a high risk for Vibrio vulnificus infection. Clinician should keep in mind of this potentially fatal infection in these patients reporting a history of recent raw oyster consumption and presented with sepsis and characterized skin lesions. Prompt empirical antibiotics treatment and aggressive surgical treatment may be lifesaving for this acute and fatal disease.