A fatal case of Vibrio vulnificus presenting as septic arthritis.
Vibrio vulnificus is an invasive gram-negative bacillus that may cause necrotizing cellulitis, bacteremia, and/or sepsis. Although V vulnificus infection is uncommon, it is frequently fatal and is usually attributed to ingestion of raw shellfish or traumatic exposure to a marine environment; patients are also often found to have a hepatic disorder (cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, or hemochromatosis) or an immunocompromised health status, and most commonly present with septicemia or a wound infection. We describe a patient who presented with septic arthritis as the first clinical manifestation of a V vulnificus infection. The organism was subsequently identified in a synovial fluid aspirate.
Johnson
R W
RW
Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunogenetics, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, MSB 5.260, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Arnett
F C
FC
D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014733:Vibrio / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*