What you need to know about Vibrio bacteria

Health officials say that a 71-year-old man died after eating a bad oyster in Sarasota earlier this month.

Health Authorities Say 71-year-old Man Dies After Eating Bad Oyster in Sarasota Earlier

There have been a number of recent reports warning the public of the dangers of Vibrio bacteria to eat certain foods or to swim 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 of the United States. University of 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 disease in the United States, reports the CDC. Another notable strain, Vibrio cholerae, is not prevalent 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 Vibrio diseases per year in the United States. States, the CDC says.

"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 swimmer's ear, said James D. Oliver, professor of microbiology at Department of Biological Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 19659004] "Personally, this is not something I worry about at all," said Oliver, who is also a member of the American Academy of Microbiology.

Vibrio vulnificus, however, is an infection to be wary of, he said. 19659008] Bacteria reside in seafood and brackish water (fresh and salt water). They can cause an infection of the skin when cuts and open wounds are exposed to contaminated water. There are about 205 infections a year, says the CDC, but one in four people die, and some have to undergo amputations to stop the spread of infected tissue. Vibrio vulnificus is sometimes mislabeled as "flesh-eating" bacteria, although it actually damages the skin.

Vibrio vulnificus is very sensitive 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 who have a weakened immune system or high levels of iron in the body are particularly affected.

"In people with liver disease – hepatitis, cirrhosis, or other liver disease – these are chronic conditions that are harmful 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 sore because you are introducing the bacteria directly into your tissues. "

The CDC recommendations to reduce the risk of any form of infection at Vibrio include not eating raw or undercooked shellfish. oysters, and avoiding swimming in brackish and estuarine water if you have broken skin (or at least wear an impervious bandage).

Although Vibrio cholerae is not a major health problem in the United States, according to the World Health Organization, between 1.3 and 4 million cases of cholera and up to 143,000 Worldwide deaths worldwide, the World Health Organization says, "If people go to endemic areas, they can pick them back," said Gulig. "But this is not an illness that people pick up when they are in the United States. 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 the water. "

Most people who are infected 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 lead to death within hours

"For cholera, I would say that people who travel to endemic areas travel abroad and review the CDC's recommendations on vaccination.Gulig said:

The 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 an infection, have made it difficult for the CDC to compare changes from year to year, said Dr. Karen Wong, an agency physician. [19659004] "But we've noticed that over the years, we have seen Vibrio infections in places we've never seen them before"

Some experts claim that warmer climates account for it. increased infections, calling the microbial equivalent of a canary in a coal mine

"With warmer temperatures, Vibrio s proliferate," said Colwell. "They are becoming more numerous, and they outnumber their competitors who, at low temperatures, would keep them in check."