Korean Journal of Infectious Diseases  1999;31(3):232-236

National Surveillance of Vibrio vulnificus Infections in 1998.

Young Hack SHIN 1 ; Jeom Kyu LEE ; Kyung Soo OH ; Jung Sik YOO ; Sang Won LEE ; Gun Young LEE ; Dong Joon CHUNG ; Ki Sang KIM

Affiliations

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Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Surveillance for Vibrio vulnificus infections was performed by Korea National Institute of Health to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of recent occurence and to provide basic information for V. vulificus infection control. In 1998, a total of 44 cases of V. vulnificus infections were confirmed bacteriologically. The age groups of the patients ranged from thirties to seventies and 13 (29.5%) patients were in their fifties. Thirty-six (81.8%) patients had chronic liver diseases. Twenty-five (56.8%) had drinking habits. Eating uncooked seafood (fish, shrimp, and small octopus) produced in tideland was the main suspected source of infections and 32 (72.8%) cases were associated with raw seafood consumption. Two cases were associated with contaminated chopping board and 5 were infected through the wound. The incubation period ranged from less than 1 day to 7 days (median 2 days). The case fatality rate was 48%. In conclusion, V. vulnificus infection, a highly fatal disease, is not rare in Korea. Therefore, attention should be given to prevent V. vulnificus infections.