Renal failure in vibrio vulnificus infection

Vibrio vulnificus infection with septicemia is a life threatening disease in the immunocompromised hosts. Renal involvement has not been documented. We reported herein 8 patients with V. vulnificus septicemia. All were immunocompromised hosts. Four patients had cirrhosis of the liver, 3 were heavy alcohol drinkers and one had systemic lupus erythematosis. Presenting symptomatology included fever, chills, leg pain and skin rash. Renal failure was observed in 6 patients. Four patients died shortly after admission. Two survived with clinical course of tubular necrosis. Renal failure is therefore common in V. vulnificus infection. This should be brought to attention, and vigorous antibiotic treatment is required. The disease may be confused with leptospirosis, scrub typhus, malaria and other forms of sepsis which also present with renal failure.