Primary Vibrio damsela Septicemia

Abstract

Vibrio damsela has been reported to cause integument infections and death in damselfish and captive eels as well as wound and soft-tissue infections in humans [1]. Although most patients who have had V. damsela infection have survived, four fatal infections due to this organism have been described [2-5]. All of the previously reported cases in humans have involved wound infections associated with exposure to seawater or handling fish. We report a fatal case of primary V. damsela septicemia associated with the consumption of raw eels in a patient with underlying alcoholic liver disease and diabetes mellitus.