Non-O1 Vibrio cholerae(V. cholerae) strains represent a diverse group of organisms which are morphologically and biochemically identical to V. cholerae, but do not agglutinate in V. cholerae O-group 1 antiserum. These strains cause a wider range
of
infections than the other typical cholera vibrio, including watery diarrhea, dysentery, wound infection, ear infection, and septicemia.
These strains have been isolated from several extraintestinal sites, including bile, gallbladder, blood, wound, ear drainage, sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid. Frequently, patients infected at these sites are afflicted with an underlying disease,
such as
liver cirrhosis, malignancy, diabetes, or any condition resulting in achlorhydria. Since the non-O1 V. cholerae gastroenteritis is self-limited, antibiotics are not recommended. However, septicemia, wound infection, and deep organ infection
should
be
treated with appropriate antibiotics. These strains were susceptible to cephalothin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin.
We report a case of non-O1 V. cholerae septicemia in a patient with liver cirrhosis. A 47-year-old male with liver cirrhosis complained of fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain upon admission. The day before the onset of symptoms, he had had Sushi. Two
blood
cultures yielded non-O1 V. cholerae. He recovered by antibiotics, cefazolin and gentamicin.
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