A 48-year-old liver transplant recipient celebrates his newfound health by spending a week on the beach in Florida. He swims, suns, and indulges in his favorite seafood, oysters. About four days into his vacation, he develops a rapidly spreading cellulitis and fluid-filled blisters on his right leg. Culture of the lesions reveals an oxidase-positive, gram-negative rod that is halophilic. You suspect the organism to be

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The organism described is Vibrio vulnificus, which is an oxidase-positive, gram-negative rod that thrives in warm seawater and is associated with seafood, particularly oysters. It can cause rapidly spreading cellulitis and sepsis, especially in individuals with liver disease or immunocompromised states, such as a liver transplant recipient.

A 48-Year-Old Liver Transplant Recipient Celebrates His Newfound Health by Spending