Vibrio cholerae Gram-negative, non-spore forming rod, facultative anerobe. Incubation Period From a few hours to 5 days, usually 2-3 days. Symptoms Profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting, with leg cramping. The rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock without immediate treatment, death can occur within hours. Illness Duration 3-7 days. Complications Can cause life-threatening dehydration. Infective Dose High levels of the bacteria are needed to cause illness (10^6 - 10^11 CFU's). Treatments Cholera can be treated with oral rehydration solution of sugar and salts to be mixed with clean water and consumed in large amounts. The most severe cases require intravenous fluids. Antibiotics will shorten diminish the severity of the illness, but rehydration is more important. Testing Stool culture, with specified growth media. Communicability Communicable for the duration of illness to a few days after recovery; a carrier state may exist for several months. Nationally Notifiable State public health departments and the CDC are contacted when a case of Cholerae is seen in the United States. Vibrio parahaemolyticusA halophilic, facultative anaerobe, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. Incubation Period Symptoms usually occur within 24 hours, but can range from 4-96 hours. Symptoms Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and possible fever. Wound or blood infections can also occur. Illness Duration Usually 2-5 days, typically self-limited. Complications Blood or wound infections, and death are uncommon and occur more often in persons with underlying medical conditions, such as alcoholism and liver disease. Infective Dose Ingestion of greater than 106 organisms, however the infective dose may be lower depending on antacid use, or health of the individual. Treatments Supportive care. Antibiotics recommended for severe cases. Testing Cultures of stool, wound, or blood. Special media is needed. Communicability Not communicable between persons. Nationally Notifiable To improve the CDC's ability to monitor trends, infections caused by V. parahaemolyticus and other Vibrio species became nationally notifiable in 2007. Vibrio vulnificusHalophilic, gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen Incubation Period 1-7 days, death can occur within 24 hours without treatment. Symptoms Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bacteremia or primary septicemia - fever and chills, decreased blood pressure, known as septic shock. Blistering skin lesions or wound infections. More common in immune compromised individuals, or in persons with liver disease. Illness Duration 2-8 days. Complications Can be fatal in patients with liver disease and the immunocompromised. Septicemia in patients is fatal about 50% of the time. Infective Dose The infective dose for gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy individuals is unknown but for predisposed persons, septicemia may occur with fewer than 100 total organisms. Treatments Supportive care and antibiotics are recommended. Attention to any wounds should be given with amputation of infected limbs sometimes necessary. Testing Stool, wound, or blood cultures, with special media to grow required. Communicability Not communicable between persons. Nationally Notifiable Infections are notifiable. Thirty-three states now report to state public health officials and the CDC. |
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