Flesh-eating bacteria kills 5th person in Louisiana | Health care/Hospitals

A fifth person in Louisiana has died of a vibrio vulnificus infection, a dangerous flesh-eating bacterium that has caused 26 hospitalizations in the state so far, a sharp increase compared to the annual average of about 10 cases and one death over the past decade.

Vibrio vulnificus is found in warm, brackish coastal waters and raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters. Most infections in Louisiana this year — 22 of 26 — have been tied to water exposure. But at least two deaths, including a sixth death from a Florida resident who ate oysters harvested from Louisiana waters, have been linked to raw or undercooked seafood.

Of the Louisiana patients, more than 90% had an underlying health condition such as diabetes, liver disease or another immune-compromising illness. The Louisiana Department of Health declined to say whether the most recent death was tied to oyster consumption or water exposure.

Surging across the Gulf

The Gulf Coast is seeing rising cases outside of Louisiana as well. Texas has reported 10 cases and one death, Mississippi five cases and one death, and Alabama has seen three cases, one tied to Louisiana oysters, according to those state health departments. Florida has recorded numbers similar to Louisiana, with 25 cases and five deaths.

Health officials say infections peak between May and October, when Gulf waters are warmest and residents are most likely to swim, fish or handle seafood. Rising summer temperatures, stronger heat waves and runoff from increasingly intense storms extend the season when Vibrio can flourish, said Tiong Aw, public health microbiologist with Tulane University.

“Alongside this increasing water temperature, we have more frequent and intense storms, and this can also wash extra nutrients into the water,” Aw said. “All these create an ideal condition for Vibrio to grow and survive.”

A dangerous infection

At least a dozen species of Vibrio bacteria can cause illness, but Vibrio vulnificus is the most severe. Once inside the body, the bacteria can trigger necrotizing skin infections, bloodstream infections, or gastrointestinal illness. About one in five people with severe infection die, sometimes within 48 hours.

“It’s very dramatic,” said Julio Figueroa, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans who has treated cases. “Vulnificus is, aptly, a good name for it.”

One hallmark symptom is the sudden appearance of fluid-filled blisters near a wound site. The infection can also worsen quickly. For some people, it might take a week and a half for the infection to start to cause symptoms concerning enough to seek medical help. For others, death can occur within 48 hours of exposure, said Figueroa.

The infection can be treated with antibiotics, which are most effective if used early on.

Who is most at risk?

While healthy people may recover from Vibrio infections with antibiotics and supportive care, those with chronic conditions are vulnerable. People with liver disease, diabetes, cancer, HIV or weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for hospitalization, limb amputation or death. Heavy alcohol users often do poorly, said Figueroa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises at-risk individuals to avoid eating raw oysters or undercooked shellfish, keep wounds covered when in brackish water and wear protective gloves when handling seafood.

LDH urges residents to take simple steps to prevent infection, such as staying out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound and covering it with a waterproof bandage. Wash any cuts exposed to seawater or raw seafood with soap and clean water, and seek medical care immediately if a wound shows signs of redness, swelling or blistering.