CLINICAL DESCRIPTION

An intestinal disorder characterized by watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps in the majority of cases, and sometimes with nausea, vomiting, fever and headache. Occasionally, a dysentery-like illness is observed with bloody or mucoid stools, high fever and high WBC count. Typically, it is a disease of moderate severity lasting 1 to 7 days. Systemic infection and death rarely occur.

Infection with Vibrio vulnificus produces septicemia in persons with chronic liver disease, chronic alcoholism; or hemochromatosis; or in individuals who are immunosuppressed. One-third of such patients develop shock and three-quarters develop distinctive bullous skin lesions.

Vibrio vulnificus can also infect wounds ranging from mild self-limited lesions to rapidly progressive cellulites and myositis that can mimic clostridial myonecrosis in the rapidity of spread and destructiveness.

CASE CLASSIFICATION

1. CONFIRMED
   
   Isolation of Vibrio sp. (other than Vibrio cholerae) from a clinical specimen, regardless of symptoms.
   
   
2. PROBABLE
   
   Not used.
   
   
3. POSSIBLE
   
   Not used.