Summer is a favorite time for the microorganism Vibrio vulnificus.

It is this vibrio that is known as the flesh-eating bacterium..

It especially thrives in the warm waters of tropical seas..

Swimmers and seafood lovers should be aware of the risk of contracting this potentially deadly infection..

Earlier this summer, health officials in the US state of Florida reminded that the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is common not only in waters off the coast of this state, but also in other warm, salty waters of the Caribbean..

Although infection with this bacterium is rare, it is never superfluous to take some precautions.. This is especially true during the warm season from May to October, when many people swim in the seas teeming with dangerous microbes..

WebMD's questions about Vibrio vulnificus were answered by Dr. Carina Blackmore, Infectious Diseases Physician in Florida.

Where can you find Vibrio vulnificus?

The bacterium loves warm salty waters.. In the United States, according to the US CDC, most of the infections occur in the Gulf Coast, including the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.. But this infection is found almost all over the planet, from Cuba to Russia, from Egypt to South Korea..

How can you get this bacterium

The consumption of unprocessed seafood is considered the main source of Vibrio vulnificus infection.. The bacterium can still enter the bloodstream with minor damage to the skin and subsequent contact with contaminated water or food.. There is no evidence that the infection is transmitted from person to person.

How Dangerous Is Vibrio vulnificus Infection

Vibrio vulnificus can cause sepsis (blood poisoning), especially in people with chronic liver failure and other diseases that weaken the immune system. In this case, the infection often leads to death.. CDC says sepsis caused by 'flesh-eating' bacteria has a 50% mortality rate.

It's a common infection?

It's different in different countries. For example, in the United States, about 95 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection are recorded each year, although only half of them are laboratory confirmed.. Of this number, an average of 85 patients require hospitalization and 35 die.. Florida had 41 infections and 11 deaths in 2013.

Who is most at risk?

Those most at risk are people who like to taste raw seafood, as well as those who bathe in salt water with open wounds on the skin and mucous membranes..

An infectious disease expert recommends staying out of the sea with any unhealed skin lesions and avoiding raw shellfish, especially oysters.. If you are storing fish, be sure to place it in the freezer..

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How does the infection manifest itself

People who have eaten contaminated food may complain of abdominal pain.. They may experience nausea and vomiting. If the infection has got into the wound, then it suppurates, increases in size. People with weakened immune systems may experience chills, fever, and skin blisters. In severe cases, shock, drop in blood pressure, failure of internal organs are possible..

It is necessary to seek help at the first alarming symptoms without wasting precious time!

Is it true that bacteria eats flesh

In vulnerable patients with wound infections, the bacterium can severely damage surrounding tissues, causing necrosing fasciitis.. This is why Vibrio vulnificus is often referred to as a flesh-eating bacterium.. Bacteria don't actually eat flesh.. It simply produces toxins that can destroy cells and tissues, causing extensive damage.. These cells are dying from poisoning with bacterial toxins, but it looks really awesome..

How the disease is diagnosed and treated?

In addition to monitoring for symptoms of infection, doctors test blood, pus, or stool for Vibrio vulnificus, which confirms the diagnosis..

Antibiotics such as doxycycline, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, or ciprofloxacin are given to treat the infection.

Drug combinations and doses may vary. Some schemes provide for the introduction of antibiotics for up to 14 days. Infected wounds are treated, surgeons remove dead tissue.

“Healthy people usually make a full recovery after an infection.. People with mild cases can recover in just a couple of days. With a severe infection and a weakened immune system, the risk is higher, and recovery can be delayed for a long time, ”says Dr. Blackmore.

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