Be careful, "carnivore" bacteria are coming

scan electroscopic images of Vibrio trauma
A new study suggests that "carnivore" bacteria living in the ocean may be spreading to previously unaffected beach waters due to climate change.
the study described five cases of severe "carnivore" bacterial infections, all of which had been exposed to water or seafood in the U.S. Gulf of Delaware. The infection is rare in Delaware Bay history because the bacteria that cause the disease, Trauma Vibrio, prefer warmer waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico.
as climate change causes ocean temperatures to rise, Vibrio trauma may move further north, allowing these infections to enter previously intractable areas. "Clinicians should be aware that trauma Vibrio infections are more likely to occur outside traditional geographic areas." Researchers at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, wrote in the paper.
vibrio bacteria live in seawater above 13 degrees Celsius. People may be infected with the bacteria in two ways: by eating contaminated marine products, or by touching seawater containing bacteria.
most people infected with Vibrio trauma only develop mild symptoms, some people develop life-threatening skin or blood infections. Trauma Vibrio can cause necrotized fascia, a rare "carnivorous" infection that can quickly damage skin and muscle tissue, leading to amputations and even death.
authors note that from 2008 to 2016, they found only one case of Vibrio trauma infection in hospitals. But in the summers of 2017 and 2018, that number jumped to five, with one patient dying. The 46-year-old suffered minor leg injuries while catching crabs. Two days later, his injured leg developed progressive pain, swelling and blisters, which were diagnosed as infections caused by Vibrio trauma. He needed emergency surgery to remove necrotic tissue from his leg and skin grafts to repair large wounds. Despite emergency surgery, his heart rate was abnormal and he died a short time later.
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says necrotized fascia caused by Vibrio doesn't usually occur in people with healthy immune systems. If you have chronic liver disease or other diseases that weaken your immune system, the risk of vibrio trauma increases. Of the five cases described in the new study, three had hepatitis B or C and one had diabetes.
to prevent Trauma Vibrio infection, the CDC advises people with wounds to avoid contact with salt or salt water or to wrap the wound with waterproof bandages. To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, people are advised to avoid raw or undercooked shellfish, the center said.