Vibrio bacteremia in Siriraj Hospital

From January 1983 to March 1988, 26 isolates of Vibrio spp. were recovered from the blood of patients admitted to Siriraj Hospital. Thirteen strains were identified as non 0-1 Vibrio cholerae, 3 were Vibrio vulnificus and 10 were Vibrio spp. The medical records of 20 patients were available for clinical analysis. Most of them were adult men with cirrhosis. Clinical features included fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, peritonitis, shock and skin lesions. Some patients had a history of seafood consumption or seawater exposure. The isolates were sensitive to commonly used antibiotics. All patients except one received at least one antibiotic that was sensitive in vitro. However, the case fatality rate was still high, 50 per cent. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical syndrome caused by Vibrio spp. in order to manage those patients promptly and appropriately.