Clinical characteristics and molecular subtyping of Vibrio vulnificus illnesses, Israel

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1875-82. doi: 10.3201/eid1412.080499.

Abstract

During 1996–1997, a new Vibrio vulnificus biotype 3, which caused severe soft tissue infection after fishbone injury, emerged in Israel. We conducted a follow-up study from 1998 through 2005 to assess changing trends, outcomes, and molecular relatedness of the implicated strains. A total of 132 cases (71% confirmed and 29% suspected) of V. vulnificus biotype 3 infection were found. Most infections (95%) were related to percutaneous fish exposure, mainly tilapia (83%) or common carp (13%). Bacteremia, altered immune status, and history of ischemic heart disease were identified as independent risk factors for death, which reached a prevalence of 7.6%. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of strains from 1998 through 2005 and from 1996 through 1997 showed a high degree of homogeneity and were distinct from those of V. vulnificus biotype 1. Infections caused by V. vulnificus biotype 3 continue affect the public’s health in Israel.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Bacteremia / epidemiology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / mortality
  • Bacteremia / physiopathology
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Carps / microbiology
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Fish Diseases / epidemiology
  • Fish Diseases / microbiology
  • Fishes / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perciformes / microbiology
  • Smegmamorpha / microbiology
  • Tilapia / microbiology
  • Vibrio Infections* / epidemiology
  • Vibrio Infections* / microbiology
  • Vibrio Infections* / mortality
  • Vibrio Infections* / physiopathology
  • Vibrio vulnificus* / classification
  • Vibrio vulnificus* / genetics
  • Vibrio vulnificus* / isolation & purification
  • Vibrio vulnificus* / pathogenicity
  • Wound Infection / epidemiology
  • Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Wound Infection / mortality
  • Wound Infection / physiopathology
  • Young Adult