Thread: Vibrio and Other 'Nasties'

Avoid entering bodies of water if you have cuts or abrasions; if injured, clean wound at once to reduce risk of infection | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)

Home / News / 2017 / Avoid entering bodies of water if you have cuts or abrasions; if injured, clean wound at once to reduce risk of infectionAvoid entering bodies of water if you have cuts or abrasions; if injured, clean wound at once to reduce risk of infection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen M. Landers, M.D., F.A.A.P.
(256) 246-1714
karen.landers@adph.state.al.us
Many harmful organisms lurk in lakes, rivers, along the coast, and in other bodies of water. Some bacteria may lead to destructive soft-tissue infections and other illnesses, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) cautions.
“Most soft-tissue infections occur with either injury or with conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes or low immunity. However, sometimes otherwise healthy people can develop a skin infection after skin injury and being exposed to natural bodies of water. Some bacteria can cause more severe infections than others,” said Dr. Karen Landers, Assistant State Health Officer, ADPH.
In brackish and warm salt water such as bay or gulf waters, Vibrio bacteria occur naturally. These bacteria can cause disease in people who eat contaminated seafood and in those with open wounds that are exposed to seawater. While there are numerous infections every year, a small number of people develop serious or sometimes fatal infections.
Dr. Landers cautions the public to be aware of the risks involved in bodies of water. “If you have open wounds, cuts, abrasions and sores, stay out of the water. Persons with low immune systems, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, and other chronic conditions should avoid eating raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters.”
Vibrio bacteria can enter the body through a break in the skin or by consuming contaminated seafood. If a person gets a cut while in the water, immediately wash the wound with soap and fresh water. If the wound shows any signs of infection (redness, pain or swelling) or if the cut is deep, get medical attention immediately.
Vibrio illness symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, fever, shock, skin lesions and wound infections. In someone with a compromised immune system, the bacteria can infect the bloodstream and may result in death. With Vibrio skin infections, surgery may be necessary. For all cases of Vibrio, it is important to begin treatment immediately because early medical care and antibiotics improve survival.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year in the United States 80,000 people become sick with vibriosis, and 100 people die from their infection. During the past 12 months (as of July 6, 2017), ADPH has conducted 33 investigations and reported 30 cases of vibriosis in Alabama.
Learn more about vibrio illness at www.cdc.gov/vibrioand http://alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/assets/Vibrio_Flyer.pdf.

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07/07/2017

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RSA Tower 201 Monroe Street, Suite 910, Montgomery, AL 36104

Phone: (334) 206-5300 | Fax: (334) 206-5520

This is probably the thing that scares me the most about fishing. Not sharks, drowning, captured by pirates, none of that stuff. Cutting my foot or something around home ain't a bother. But at the Tennessee River, or the Northern Gulf Coast, I try to be afraid of me or someone having a sore or whatever. It's just fishin', and not worth getting sick for.

Vibrio is worldwide in warm brackish-to-salty waters - nothing special about Mobile, it's everywhere. Most healthy people will fight it off if they don't let an infection get out of hand. Peroxide or bleach is a good way to wash all cuts - no matter how small.

People who are immune compromised, getting chemotherapy or taking suppressants, e.g. need to be extra careful.

Stuff is nasty. Took over a year taking 2 antibiotics for my swelling in my finger to go down enough to put my wedding band back on after a tiny hardhead encounter.

The honest question is has this always been present, or is this a man-made phenomenon? And even if it is a man-made phenomeon, is it avoidable? I've been on the coast almost every year since i was born, and I'm 34. If this is a significant risk, what can/should we do to prevent it?

These types of bacteria have been around forever, and as populations expand, so does infection rates.

Originally Posted by bodebum

These types of bacteria have been around forever, and as populations expand, so does infection rates.

And it's not just the general population that is expanding, the number of people getting treatments that compromise their immune systems has exploded in the last few decades, including people who would have died in the past, but are now surviving and taking vacations.

I have a question then, my kids have cuts that they got at home, normal cuts that boys get, the cuts were treated and scabbed over is it safe for them to go in. Also, I was always told it was in areas of still water, like back bays, not the ocean front, that you had this organism. Thanks

I do not know for fact, but the surf is probably less likely to harbor this particular organism. The surf does contain one zillion quadrillion other micro organisms both benign and not so benign. I suppose the key is to be aware of any sores or scrapes that we may have.

One of the 'keys' to infection is deep cuts or abrasions (or a stab or puncture from a sea creature).
Maybe this increases the possibility of the vibrio to enter the body en masse and infects the bloodstream so it spreads quickly.
99.999% of us have healthy enough immune systems to fight it off.

Another way to ward off possible infections is to treat the wound ASAP.
A lot of fishermen I know now carry small bottles of disinfectant to administer to wounds on the spot.
Kill it BEFORE it gets a foothold in the body!

And yes, 'normal' sea water (30-35 ppm) is much less likely to harbor vibrio.

It must have a narrow range of growth in pH, salinity and need higher temperatures for rampant growth.

Hmmm, I just had a flashback to Andromeda Strain ;-)