Vibrio Albensis Bacteraemia in a Decompensated Cirrhotic Patient with an Atypical Transmission Source

Vibrio albensis is a rare Gram-negative halophilic bacterium belonging to the Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 (NOVC) group, which rarely causes infections in humans. To date, only approximately 5 cases of V. albensis infection in humans have been reported in the global medical literature. This bacterium is typically found in marine and brackish water environments (estuaries), with primary transmission routes including exposure to seawater through open wounds or the consumption of raw seafood.

We report a 49-year-old male with decompensated cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse and hepatitis C virus infection who presented with acute liver failure. On day 5 of hospitalization, the patient developed fever (39.5°C) and rigors. Two sets of blood cultures were positive for V. albensis. Notably, the patient denied any recent exposure to seawater, brackish water, or raw seafood consumption. The isolate demonstrated full susceptibility to all tested antimicrobial agents. The patient was successfully treated with ertapenem combined with levofloxacin for 7 days and discharged in stable condition after 11 days of hospitalization.

This is a rare case with distinctive features: (1) V. albensis bacteraemia without typical environmental exposure, (2) to the best of our knowledge the first reported case of hospital-acquired V. albensis infection, and (3) the case supports the hypothesis of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria originating from the gastrointestinal tract in a cirrhotic patient. This case emphasizes the importance of microbiological diagnosis and careful monitoring of infectious complications in immunocompromised patients.

Vibrio albensis is an extremely rare pathogenic organism in humans, with only 5 previously reported cases worldwide.Liver cirrhosis is a significant risk factor for invasive Vibrio albensis infection due to compromised immune function.Hospital-acquired infection with an unknown source suggests alternative transmission routes that warrant further investigation.