The infection that killed Jerome Rodio, 75, occurred after the retired officer helped a man bring up several crab traps, scratching the inside of his arm as he did so. Mr. Rodio then washed the wound with water from the Chesapeake Bay, which harbored the deadly bacteria. Three days later, Mr. Rodio died.
“At one point he showed me the scratch and we laughed about it,” said Gene Rodio, who accompanied his father on a boat that morning. “It was only two inches, like a nasty cat had taken a swing at him.”
Vibrio vulnificus is one of roughly a dozen Vibrio species that cause the vibriosis illness in humans. Vibriosis is typically accompanied by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills and commonly occurs after eating raw seafood, particularly oysters. Vibrio bacteria can also cause a necrotizing skin infection when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salty water where the bacteria dwell.
According to the CDC, vibriosis causes 80,000 illnesses and 100 fatalities annually in the U.S.
In June, two men battled Vibrio infections in Texas. Both lived, but one lost his leg to the infection.
More articles on infection control:
Norovirus reported at Republican National Convention
Despite CDC recommendations, study suggests intranasal flu vaccine may still offer some immunity
Consistent use of vaginal ring effective for HIV prevention, study finds
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
