Many people along the Gulf Coast love to spend time out on the beach or in the water, but it's important to be careful while enjoying the salt water. Each year, there are between 150 to 200 Vibrio vulnificus infections. It's a flesh-eating bacteria and symptoms can get bad quickly.
Dr. Michael Kim, a board-certified plastic surgeon, joined Gulf Coast News to discuss how you can avoid getting infected.
Vibrio vulnificus can be found in warm saltwater and brackish waters. Vibrio vulnificus is in the same family as the bacteria that causes cholera. It's halophilic, which means it requires a salty environment. You can get infected by eating raw oysters or other shellfish or swimming with an open wound.
Infections can enter the bloodstream, leading to tissue necrosis. About half of infected wounds require amputation or surgical debridement. Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50% of the time. However, antibiotics can cure a Vibrio vulnificus infection, especially if caught early.
Another flesh-eating bacteria to be cautious of is mycobacterium. It is a genus of actinobacteriaceae. Over 190 species are recognized in this genus, and it includes pathogens known to cause serious diseases in mammals, including tuberculosis and leprosy in humans. Mycobacterium marinum can be found in stagnant fresh and saltwater and normally affects marine workers.
For more information, reach out to Kim online .
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