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)

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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

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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.

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Originally Posted by bodebum

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

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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 ;-)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs56iTECDO.../andromeda.jpg

Yet another reason to stay away from Alabama's Gulf Coast. As if the swarms of killer shark attacks and massive death toll from Zika weren't enough to keep people away. According to the CBS, Alabama has about 33 cases per year compared to 80,000 cases in the entire US. That translates to 0.0004125%. Stay away!

Flesh-eating bacteria warning issued in Alabama

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Originally Posted by rabidawise

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?

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Hard to say. It's been identified since the late 1970s. IMHO, a lot of it has to do with having more people with immune problems surviving diabetes or whatever else, and making them susceptible. It's not really avoidable, as it exists in most warm salt or brackish water in the U.S. If you have an immune problem, worry about it. Otherwise, just make sure you disinfect any wounds that get in salt water.

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Originally Posted by pokenfish

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

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If they have any kind of immune problem (diabetes, or other major disease/syndrome), you might need to worry. But they are probably safe. I've lived on the Gulf Coast (Pensacola and Spanish Fort) since 1997, and I haven't heard about any healthy young person getting vibrio. It's usually older people with diabetes or liver/kidney problems. Watch any cuts, and if they start to get infected, take the kids to the Emergency room.

The healthiest among us are susceptible to major harm by vibrio. Fresh wounds that are deep, and puncture wounds have most often been the entry points. And generally, anyone wounded while actually walking in the water is most at risk.

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Originally Posted by Mattb

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.

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Matt, did they test and say that it was vibrio? I have a friend who has had two bad experiences also from catfish (one hardhead, one gafftop), but it was not vibrio, just the usual crud from catfish.

Vibrio fulminates and kills if it gets out of hand, catfish crud lingers and debilitates (in general, not guaranteed).

People need to handle those suckers with a little more respect.

The doctor assumed it was vibrio but never did a culture. Lots of marine infections, my goal is to avoid all. I use long pliers now rather than my fingers

I wear my surf shoes. They are old, leather-top Hush Puppies, salt cured, that I " ruined " on my honeymoon in '91. But I also fish barefoot some, just like any other dumb ash. Long nose pliers are always with me, shoes or no shoes.

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Originally Posted by bodebum

I wear my surf shoes. They are old, leather-top Hush Puppies, salt cured, that I " ruined " on my honeymoon in '91. But I also fish barefoot some, just like any other dumb ash. Long nose pliers are always with me, shoes or no shoes.

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I went end over end a couple of years ago when a big ray swam out from under my feet and I lost my balance. I'm still amazed that I didn't get stung. I always wear crocs or wading shoes now to fish or collect ghost shrimp.

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Originally Posted by bodebum

The healthiest among us are susceptible to major harm by vibrio. Fresh wounds that are deep, and puncture wounds have most often been the entry points. And generally, anyone wounded while actually walking in the water is most at risk.

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Read the news stories. I haven't heard of anybody that has been in the papers about vibrio infection that hasn't been an older person or had some kind of immune deficiency (and usually both). Young healthy people aren't getting the headline grabbing cases. They may still be getting it, but after treatment, it's not a problem.

My how things change. 50 + years ago our folks would encourage us to get in the gulf at Veterans Road to help "heal" cuts and scratches sooner. Bout the same time though the bay was questionable quality due to industry.

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Originally Posted by PatRyan

My how things change. 50 + years ago our folks would encourage us to get in the gulf at Veterans Road to help "heal" cuts and scratches sooner. Bout the same time though the bay was questionable quality due to industry.

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We were told lake Shelby also, like you said though that was some time ago.