Bacterial infections caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (cholera)

Article written by BS. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Laboratory Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

Cholera is a disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium in the same family and genus as Vibrio cholerae - the bacteria that cause cholera, epidemics and cholera pandemics with hundreds of thousands or millions of people infected. Vibrio parahaemolyticus plays a pathogenic role similar to that of cholera, but it can cause diseases other than intestinal diseases.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus lives in marine animals such as fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, snails of brackish and salt water. It is also found in sand, mud, and polluted seawater.

Acute enterocolitis transmitted by ingestion. People get sick mainly from eating contaminated seafood or sea water, which contains Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria but has not been cooked or contaminated during processing and storage. Incubation period: short from 2 to 6 hours, can be up to 30 hours. Mild Cholera: Cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, loose, watery stools, almost no fever, no abdominal pain. However, profuse vomiting and diarrhea can lead to acute dehydration and electrolyte loss, which, if left untreated, can lead to death. Bacillary dysentery: Diarrhea with loose stools with blood in the fish, accompanied by abdominal pain and fever, bacillus dysentery. If not treated properly, health will be affected. Infection from wounds: This is a less common cause, but Vibrio parahaemolyticus can enter from contaminated water into open wounds, scratches on the body causing local infection, thereby creating inflammatory foci. ulcers, pus-filled areas even necrosis must be amputated. Or cause sepsis is a complication of systemic infection, which can lead to death.

Habit of eating and drinking seafood such as fish, shellfish, snails, crabs, raw or rare, that is, undercooked or rancid, dead. Working in contaminated water with broken limbs but not wearing protective gear.

Acute enteritis: Do not eat raw or undercooked seafood or spoiled or dead seafood; Cook cooked food, drink boiling because bacteria are killed very quickly at high temperature. V. parahaemolyticus died at 650C after 10 minutes, they could not grow at temperatures below 150C. The suitable temperature for multiplication is 370C; Choose fresh, clean food, preferably censored on food hygiene and safety;

Process food immediately after purchase. Especially for fish, it is necessary to do it right away because the intestines of fish are very quickly decomposed, bacteria from the fish intestines spread to the fish meat very quickly; Preserving seafood according to instructions; Prevention of wound infection: wear protective clothing when working in contaminated water As soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should immediately go to a reputable medical facility for examination and treatment. Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.
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