300
surgical service with a significant laceration to his hand. He states that he was oyster shucking and cut his hand on the shell. Hours after admission his wound becomes necrotic, the patient is in septic shock and requires amputation of his hand. What organism is the likely culprit of this rapid decline
Vibrio vulnificus
Which is the number one cause of shellfish-associated deaths in the U.S. Organisms live in salt water marine environments: seawater and estuaries; wound infections result from exposure of a wound to seawater or brackish water containing the organism. Exposure can result from recreational water activities, oyster shucking, sea urchin harvesting, fish fin punctures or handling seafood