The uncle fell and injured himself at the beach but had to have his limb amputated to save his life! This "deadly bacteria" is more common in summer

Uncle Wang (pseudonym) accidentally fell down at the beach and thought it was just a minor injury. He never expected that the next day his injured right hand would swell up completely. As the disease progressed rapidly, he had to undergo amputation to save his life. After examination, he was found to be infected with Vibrio vulnificus.

Experts from Fujian Second Medical University Hospital urgently remind that summer is the peak season for marine Vibrio vulnificus infection. The infection is rapid in onset, progresses rapidly, and is difficult to treat, so it should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. This issue explains this "silent killer in the ocean" in detail.

Recently, the emergency department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University received a patient in his sixties named Uncle Wang (pseudonym).

"When the patient was brought in, he was very agitated and his consciousness was unclear. He kept shouting in pain. The back of his right hand and forearm were severely swollen, part of the skin was black and necrotic, and exudate was constantly dripping from his arm. He was in infectious shock and renal damage, and his condition was critical!" said Lin Xingong, attending physician of basic surgery/plastic surgery at Fujian Medical University Second Hospital.

Immediately, the emergency department and basic surgery/plastic surgery departments held an emergency consultation. Considering the urgency of his injury, they immediately gave him a series of treatments including fluid infusion, anti-shock, anti-infection, and organ function maintenance. After his vital signs stabilized slightly, he was quickly sent to the operating room for debridement and drainage. After the operation, he was urgently sent to the ICU for further rescue.

During the rescue process, the doctor cultured the exudate from Uncle Wang and confirmed that he was infected with Vibrio vulnificus. Due to the rapid progression of the disease and the severity of the injury, the infection could not be effectively controlled after two days of rescue in the ICU.

"Amputation is the only way to save his life!" Wang Chaoyang, chief physician of basic surgery/plastic surgery at Fujian Second Medical Hospital, explained that since the infection cannot be controlled, if it continues to progress, the patient will soon develop multiple organ dysfunction and failure, endangering his life.

After obtaining the consent of his family, the hospital's orthopedic team performed an amputation operation on Uncle Wang, amputating his right arm. After the operation, he was pushed into the ICU for further rescue.

Fortunately, after intensive rescue and comprehensive treatment, Uncle Wang was finally out of danger and his condition is currently relatively stable.

Original drawing: A YONG

Why is Vibrio vulnificus so dangerous?

Rapid onset and high mortality rate

Marine Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that lives in the ocean and often parasitizes marine organisms such as shrimp, crabs, clams and oysters. The infection is rapid in onset, progresses rapidly, and is difficult to treat. If not treated promptly within 48 hours , the mortality rate can reach more than 50%; if not effectively treated for more than 72 hours , the mortality rate is close to 100%. Due to the strong toxicity of Vibrio vulnificus, it is also called the "silent killer in the ocean."

"This patient is the first case of marine Vibrio vulnificus infection we have received this year." Chief Physician Wang Chaoyang said that the chance of infection with marine Vibrio vulnificus is not high, but once infected, it is highly lethal. Last year, a patient was scratched by an oyster shell at the beach, which resulted in a lower limb infection. Ultimately, rescue efforts failed and the patient died.

Two infection routes

There are two main ways to get infected with marine Vibrio vulnificus. One is when broken skin or mucous membranes come into contact with seawater or seafood pierces the skin . The bacteria spread quickly through broken skin and cause severe myositis and fasciitis, leading to severe gangrene and then sepsis. Many infected people have to undergo amputation to save their lives.

The other is eating seafood contaminated by marine Vibrio vulnificus , which enters the blood through the gastrointestinal mucosa and causes systemic infection. Among them, traumatic infection is the most common.

Uncle Wang, who escaped this time, is a sanitation worker. He accidentally fell while cleaning up debris at the beach and was injured on his head and face. The doctor said that there was only one wound on the back of his right hand, which was infected with marine Vibrio vulnificus, and the bacteria spread to the elbow, while the head and face wounds were not detected with this bacteria.

These people should be especially careful

Director Wang Chaoyang pointed out that marine Vibrio vulnificus infections often occur from March to November, with summer being the peak period . On the one hand, the water temperature is higher in summer, which is suitable for the growth and reproduction of marine Vibrio vulnificus; on the other hand, people have more opportunities to go to the beach, handle seafood, and eat seafood.

Not many people are infected with marine Vibrio vulnificus, but the incidence is higher in people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic liver disease (cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, etc.), chronic nephritis, gout, hemophilia, tumors and other immune-compromised groups .

How to prevent infection

0 1Keep wound away from sea water

Keep damaged skin or open wounds away from sea water.

02Be careful when handling seafood

Be especially careful when handling seafood, especially people with underlying diseases or poor immune function. Try to wear thick waterproof gloves when cleaning and handling food, or use sharp knives, pliers and other tools to prevent being stabbed.

03Avoid eating raw seafood

Especially people at high risk of immunodeficiency should avoid eating raw seafood.

Director Wang Chaoyang emphasized that if you are stabbed by fish bones or shellfish, you should immediately wash the wound with clean water and disinfect it. If the wound is abnormal, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you have infection, fever, low blood pressure and other symptoms due to contact with seawater, seafood or limbs stabbed by shellfish or fish, you should seek medical attention in time and tell the medical staff the details of the injury process, so as to further improve the success rate of treatment.