Vibrio vulnificus Infection

Vibrio vulnificus, a gram-negative bacterium and pathogenic member of the Vibrio genus that includes V cholerae and V parahaemolyticus, thrives in warm marine environments. Rising ocean temperatures have allowed the organism to extend its range into more northern waters. Global climate change and associated weather events continue to drive increases in the pathogen’s prevalence, transmission, and virulence. By 2081, projections indicate that Vibrio vulnificus may inhabit every eastern coastal region of the United States. Transmission of V vulnificus commonly occurs through consumption of contaminated seafood or exposure of open wounds to infected water. The infection manifests across a broad clinical spectrum, from mild gastrointestinal illness to severe necrotizing skin infections. Vibrio vulnificus accounts for the highest number of seafood-related fatalities in the United States, with death often occurring within 24 to 48 hours after symptom onset. Mortality ranges from 18% to 50%, and annual treatment costs approach 28 million dollars. As the prevalence and infection rate of Vibrio vulnificus expand geographically, multidrug resistance is emerging, exerting a significant global impact.