ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze characteristics of pathogenic microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Vib-rio vulnificus (V.vulnificus)causing infection in patients at a hospital in Shantou City. Methods Four patients with V.vulnificus infection admitted to a hospital between June 2013 and June 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, blood specimens of patients were collected for culture,blister fluid and wound secretion were taken and inoculated on blood agar plates,MacConkey agar plates,and thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS)plates,isolated strains were identified and performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results Among 4 patients with V. vulnificus infection,3 died,1 was cured;patients developed primary septicemia and lower extremity infection be-cause of eating pickled crab,steamed scallop,or contacting with seafood products after trauma. Blister fluid from patients A and B,wound secretion from patient C,and blood from patient D were all isolated oxidase-positive gram-negative bacteria which produced green colonies on TCBS plate,these strains were identified as V.vulnificus, which were resistant or intermediate to cefazolin,intermediate to cefotetan,and 1 strain was resistant to cefepime. Conclusion Four patients infected with V.vulnificus have high mortality rate (3/4),positive rates of blister fluid and wound secretion are higher than blood;timely medical consultation,early antimicrobial therapy,and active de-bridement will help to cure the disease.