A Fatal Case of Bacteremia Caused by <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> Non-O1/O139

Abstract

<i>Vibrio cholerae</i> is a pathogen known to cause the waterborne epidemic disease cholera. Overall, <i>V. cholerae</i> O1 or O139 strains produce the cholera toxin that cause gastroenteritis, resulting in watery diarrhea. Most of the enterocolitis caused by <i>V. cholerae</i> can be easily treated with fluid therapy and conservative care. However, <i>V. cholerae</i> non-O1/O139 strains can cause extraintestinal infections, such as wound infection or sepsis, in immunocompromised patients. The clinical course of these infections is very similar to that of <i>V. vulnificus</i> infection. We report about a 52-year-old man without previous underlying disease who was diagnosed with <i>V. cholerae</i> non-O1/O139 infection and died within 72 hours after admission to the intensive care unit.