Two cases of severe sepsis due to Vibrio vulnificus wound infection acquired in the Baltic Sea

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 23; no. 12; pp. 912 - 915
• Main Authors: RUPPERT, J, PANZIG, B, GUERTLER, L, HINZ, P, SCHWESINGER, G, FELIX, S. B, FRIESECKE, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.12.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial sepsis; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical analysis; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiological analysis; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Seawater; Seawater - microbiology; Sepsis - drug therapy; Sepsis - microbiology; Sepsis - mortality; Vibrio Infections - diagnosis; Vibrio Infections - drug therapy; Vibrio Infections - mortality; Vibrio vulnificus - drug effects; Vibrio vulnificus - isolation & purification; Water analysis; Water pollution; Water temperature; Wound Infection - complications; Wound Infection - microbiology; Baltic Sea; Infection; Human; Sepsis syndrome; Critically ill; Vibrio vulnificus; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Wound; Bacteremia
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-004-1241-2

Two severe cases of Vibrio vulnificus wound infection with secondary septicemia occurred during 1 week in August 2003 on the German island of Usedom in the southwestern Baltic Sea. In both cases, pre-existing wounds were inoculated by wading in contaminated sea water. One of the patients died from septic multiorgan failure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fatality due to a V. vulnificus infection to have occurred in Germany. Microbiological analysis revealed high concentrations of V. vulnificus in sea water along the coastline, following a period when water temperature exceeded 20 degrees C for more than 2 weeks.