Anuraj Appukuttan1 , Yadu Krishnan2 , Sherin Shaji
Vibrio vulnificus belongs to the family of Vibrionaceae mostly found in warm coastal ecosystems where water temperature ranges from 9 to 31 degrees and salinity between 15 and 25 ppt as a part of its natural flora. Most cases of V. vulnificus infections are usually found in tropical or subtropical regions. Although infections are rare. V. vulnificus is responsible for most deaths caused by vibrios. Due to global warming and rising sea temperatures, there has been an expansion of the geographical area impacted by the organism and thus the incidence of infection has risen worldwide posing a major threat to public health. Recent studies have identified the organism in previously unaffected regions suggesting that there may be further increase in infections. Another factor contributing to the infection as a major public health concern is that known shellfish control measures fail to prevent or eliminate V. vulnificus from shellfish. The bacterium can cause severe gastroenteritis from consumption of raw seafood well as wound infections and necrotizing fasciitis with mortality rates for sepsis and wound infections at 50% and 17% respectively. 1 Once Vibrio vulnificus associated case is suspected appropriate antibiotics treatment and surgical intervention must be performed immediately. Though rare, new emerging cases has set an alarm in the medical field and re-emphasizes on the need for active lookout for this bacterium among cases of septicaemia and necrotising fasciitis.
