What You Need to Know About Harmful Vibrio Bacteria | Simplemost

There have been a number of recent reports warning the public of the dangers of Vibrio's bacteria from eating certain foods or swimming at the beach. An infection can lead to gastrointestinal problems, limb loss and even death. But what are these bacteria?

"These are interesting organisms that range from the mbadive global epidemic – cholera – to infrequent but deadly infections – Vibrio vulnificus," said Rita Colwell, a professor in the Department of Cell Biology at the University from Maryland. & Molecular Genetics and former director of the National Science Foundation.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 12 species of Vibrio bacteria that cause diseases in humans, known as vibriosis. About 80% of infections occur between May and October, when the water is warmer, and usually after a person eats infected shells.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio alginolyticus are the three most common species that cause the disease in the United States, reports the CDC. Another notable strain, Vibrio cholerae, is not widespread in the United States.

Symptoms of Vibrio infection include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Treatment is not always necessary, and serious illnesses are rare, but doctors prescribe antibiotics in more persistent cases, according to the agency.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the most frequently reported species, responsible for 45,000 of the 80,000 disease states, the CDC said.

"It is badociated with the ingestion of seafood that has not been properly cooked, or properly stored and then not properly cooked," Colwell said. "And also by taking oysters or seafood in contaminated areas, which people sometimes do, especially in Florida or the Gulf, where there is a sign that says" no fishing "but the oysters get bigger. they look good, so they eat them. "

Vibrio alginolyticus usually causes ear infections and the swimmer's ear, said James D. Oliver, a professor of microbiology at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Carolina. North to Charlotte

"Personally, it's not something I have," said Oliver, who is also a member of the American Academy of Microbiology.

Should you be worried? [19659013] Vibrio vulnificus, however, is an infection to be wary of, he said.] Bacteria reside in seafood and brackish water (fresh and salt water) .These can cause an infection of the skin when open cuts and wounds are exposed to contaminated water.There are about 205 infections per year, says the CDC, but one in four people die, and some have to undergo amputations to stop the spread of infected tissue Vibrio vulnificu It is sometimes mislabeled as a "flesh-eating" bacteria, although it damages the skin.

Vibrio vulnificus is very susceptible to antibiotics, but the drug must be given quickly, in a day or two, said Oliver. If there is an indication of infection such as redness and swelling, a person should consult a doctor, he says.

Very young, very old, and people with immune systems or high levels of iron in the body are particularly vulnerable.

"In people with liver disease – hepatitis, cirrhosis, or other liver disease – these are chronic conditions that are damaging to the liver," said Dr. Oliver. "Its cells are destroyed, releasing iron into the bloodstream, and this released iron exceeds the capacity of your blood to sequester it, so you basically get free iron in the blood, and that allows these bacteria to proliferate very, very quickly. "

Paul A. Gulig, a professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Florida, noted that" For raw oysters, by far most people who become seriously ill have the predisposing conditions … But … you can be healthy and catch the wound infection because you are introducing the bacteria directly into your tissue. "

How to reduce your risk

The CDC recommendations to reduce the risk of any form of infection do not eat raw or undercooked crustaceans, especially oysters, and avoid swimming in brackish and estuarine waters if you have a broken skin (or at least an impermeable bandage)

Although Vibrio cholerae is not a major health problem in the United States, there are between 1.3 and 4 million cases of cholera and up to 143,000 deaths a year worldwide , according to the World Health Organization. 19659002] "If people are traveling to places where it is endemic, they can pick it up and bring it back," Gulig said. "But this is not an illness that people pick up when they are in the US We do not have it in our water and our food.It is mainly a disease of developing countries. due to poor sanitation and poor hydration of water. "

Most infected people have no symptoms or are mild to moderate. Cholera also causes watery diarrhea that can be treated by replacing fluid loss with water and electrolytes and sometimes with antibiotics. If left untreated, severe dehydration can result in death within hours.

"For cholera, I would say that people traveling to endemic areas travel abroad and review the CDC recommendations for immunization. Gulig says:

Changes in recent years in Vibrio tests, from bacterial cultures to new tests that may offer less information about the specific strain of Vibrio causing infection, have made it difficult for the CDC to compare changes from year to year, said Dr. Karen Wong, a doctor from the agency.

"But we have noticed that over the years we have seen Vibrio infections in places we have not seen them before," Wong

Some experts say that warmer climates explain the increase in infections, calling the microbial equivalent of a canary in a coal mine

"With warmer temperatures, the Vibrios proliferate," said Colwell. "They're getting bigger, and they're outperforming their competitors who at lower temperatures would keep them in check."

Written by Maritza Moulite for CNN.

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