The Effectiveness of Urgent Debridement for Clinically Diagnosed Vibrio Sepsis Clinically Diagnosed Vibrio Sepsis

Abstract

Vibrio vulnificus can cause rapidly spreading skin and soft tissue infections with significant associated morbodity and mortality. Patients with underlying chronic illness, such as cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, or immunosuppression, have been noted to be at high risk for rapid progression of this infections.

We evaluate the role of urgent debridement in conjunction with an empirical antibiotic

therapy in clinically diagnosed patients.

Urgent debridement was performed on 15 out of 17 patients who were clinically

diagnosed as having Vibrio vulnificus sepsis. Two patients had not debridement due to skin lesion involving entire body surface.

Among 17 patients, Vibrio vulniflcus was isolated in 10 patients. 15 patients had

underling diseases and no underlying conditions were identified in 2 cases.

After operation, immediate Mortality rate in clinically diagnosed cases of Vibrio

vulnificus sepsis was 17.6% and long term mortality rate was 23.5%

We concluded that urgent debridement performed in conjunction with the empirical

antibiotics helps to improve both immediate and long term prognosis of the patients.