A man and his family drive to the coast and have an oyster dinner. A couple of days later, the man arrives at the emergency department with a fever, bullous skin lesions, and diarrhea. He is extremely ill and appears septic. The microbiologist notices curved gram-negative rods on the stool Gram stain. What is the most probable organism causing this condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with Vibrio vulnificus infection, which is common in coastal areas and is acquired through consumption of contaminated shellfish. The presence of curved gram-negative rods on the stool Gram stain is also indicative of Vibrio species. Yersinia enterocolitica can also cause diarrhea, but the fever and skin lesions are not typical for this organism. Cryptosporidium jejuni is a parasitic organism that causes diarrhea, but does not typically cause fever or skin lesions. Vibrio cholerae can cause severe diarrhea, but does not typically cause skin lesions or sepsis.

A Man and His Family Drive to the Coast and Have