Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia in a cirrhotic patient

O Petsaris (1, 2) , J B Nousbaum (3) , M L Quilici (4) , G Le Coadou (3) , C Payan (1, 2) , Marie-Louise Abalain (1, 2)

1 Laboratoire de microbiologie
2 Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé
3 Service de gastroenterologie
4 CNR - Centre National de Référence des Vibrions et du Choléra - National Reference Center Vibrios and Cholera

Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 or O139 are the aetiological agents of cholera. The pathogenicity of non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae is less well known. These worldwide bacteria are responsible for gastrointestinal infections or, more rarely, bacteraemia in patients with an underlying disease, leading to life-threatening complications. We report a case of non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae bacteraemia due to a haemolytic strain in a cirrhotic patient. Early antibiotherapy allowed a good outcome. The aim of this case report is to underline the virulence of non-choleragenic Vibrio strains, possibly linked to haemolysin production, and the potential danger of consuming undercooked seafood or exposing wounds to sea water in cirrhotic patients.

Domains: Santé publique et épidémiologie; Bacteriology

O Petsaris, J B Nousbaum, M L Quilici, G Le Coadou, C Payan, et al.. Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia in a cirrhotic patient. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2010, 59 (10), pp.1260-2. ⟨10.1099/jmm.0.021014-0⟩. ⟨pasteur-01136383⟩