Sepsis due to Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from catheter of young patient with hypercholesterolemy: the first case from Turkey

Vibrio alginolyticus occasionally causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. Bacteremia and necrotising fasciits caused by V.alginolyticus have been reported. We described a case of sepsis due to V. alginolyticus isolated from catheter of 19-year-old patient with hypercholesterolemy. Moreover the cases of invasive V.alginolyticus reported in the literature were reviewed. Blood cultures of the patient were evaluated by the BACTEC 9120 system. The identification of the bacteria was performed conventional methods and confirmed by the automatized ID32GN and VITEK 2 automation systems. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed according to recommendations of Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI). The patient recovered due to early diagnosis and appropriate therapy. No identifiable source of this infection could be determined. In conclusion, rapid and correct identification of the bacteria and early administration of appropriate antibiotics is essential for controlling invasive Vibrio infections, such as V.alginolyticus sepsis, especially in immunocompromised hosts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of V.alginolyticus bacteremia in Turkey.