title: The epidemiology of Vibrio infections in Florida, 1981-1993.
abstract: The epidemiology of 690 Vibrio infections reported in Florida during 1981-1993 is described. Most infections resulted in one of three clinical syndromes: gastroenteritis (51%), wound infections (24%), or primary septicemia (17%). Case-fatality rates were 1% for gastroenteritis, 5% for wound infections, and 44% for primary septicemia. While gastroenteritis had little seasonal variation, 91% of primary septicemias and 86% of wound infections occurred from April through October, mostly due to the seasonality of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections. Infected wounds were largely a result of occupational activities around seawater. Some 68% of gastroenteritis cases and 83% of the primary septicemias were associated with raw oyster consumption. Preexisting liver disease was present in 48% of patients with primary septicemia and was associated with a fatal outcome in both wound infections (relative risk [RR], 28.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3-127.5; P < .0001) and primary septicemia (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.1; P < .01).
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, USA.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hlady
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Klontz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010125:Ostreidae; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012758:Shellfish; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality