Skin and soft-tissue infections after injury in the ocean: culture methods and antibiotic therapy for marine bacteria.
Isolated organisms from two common Indo-Pacific marine animals (Echinometra mathaei urchins and Acanthaster planci sea stars) likely to cause puncture wounds to recreational beachcombers, diverse, or operational military forces during amphibious assaults demonstrate why practitioners should consider their first choice for potential antibiotic therapy differently from their usual favorite antibiotics. The effects of thiosulfate-citrate-bile-sucrose (TCBS) agar, varying salt concentrations in the standard media, and comparison of room temperature incubation versus use of the 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) incubator are reviewed. The yield of pathogenic marine bacteria is increased if TCBS agar is used and more than one temperature is used for incubation. A potentially significant human pathogen, Vibrio vulnificus, appears to be ubiquitous.
Reed
K C
KC
Microbiology Division, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan.
Crowell
M C
MC
Castro
M D
MD
Sloan
M L
ML
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D018579:Patient Selection; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000382:microbiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013215:Starfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D014481:United States; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents