Vibrio damsela. A cause of fulminant septicemia

A previously healthy 70-year-old man presented with a rapidly progressive and fulminant infection due to Vibrio damsela after suffering a knife cut while filleting bluefish at the New Jersey Shore. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and localized wound exploration, the patient died. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of V damsela sepsis with simultaneous isolation of the organism from both blood and wound. We are reporting this case to heighten physicians' awareness of this infection and the importance of early management with antibiotics and surgical consultation.