At that time, blood and ascitic fluid cultures were reported as growing V vulnificus. Antibiotics were changed to doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. The patient continued to deteriorate and died 36 hours after admission. On further questioning, the patient's family admitted to eating raw oysters 2 days before the patient's presentation. No other family members became ill.
Primary septicemia is seen most commonly in patients with certain underlying illnesses.
Conditions that predispose to V vulnificus septicemia are shown in the table. The disease has a higher mortality in patients with underlying illnesses, in particular, cirrhosis. Septicemia usually follows ingestion of raw or poorly cooked contaminated seafood. Oysters harvested from approved sites free of fecal contamination may be contaminated with V vulnificus. Consequently, consumption of fresh, raw seafood poses the greatest risk for infection.