Non-01 Vibrio cholerae septicemia and meningitis in a neonate

Vibrio cholerae Bacteremia: An Enigma in Cholera-Endemic African Countries

Cholera is highly endemic in many sub-Saharan African countries. The bacterium Vibrio cholerae is responsible for this severe dehydrating diarrheal disease that accounts for over 100,000 deaths each year globally. In recent years, the pathogen has been found to invade intestinal layers and translocate into the bloodstream of humans. The non-toxigenic strains of V. cholerae (non-O1/O139), also known as NOVC, which do not cause epidemic or pandemic cases of cholera, are the major culprits of V. cholerae bacteremia. In non-cholera-endemic regions, clinical reports on NOVC infection have been noted over the past few decades, particularly in Europe and America. Although low-middle-income countries are most susceptible to cholera infections because of challenges with access to clean water and inappropriate sanitation issues, just a few cases of V. cholerae bloodstream infections have been reported. The lack of evidence-based research and surveillance of V. cholerae bacteremia in Africa may have significant clinical implications. This commentary summarizes the existing knowledge on the host risk factors, pathogenesis, and diagnostics of NOVC bacteremia.

Cholera rages in Africa and the Middle East: A narrative review on challenges and solutions

Background and Aim

Cholera is a life-threatening infectious disease that is still one of the most common acute watery diarrheal diseases in the world today. Acute diarrhea and severe dehydration brought on by cholera can cause hypovolemic shock, which can be fatal in minutes. Without competent clinical therapy, the rate of case fatality surpasses 50%. The purpose of this review was to highlight cholera challenges in Africa and the Middle East and explain the reasons for why this region is currently a fertile environment for cholera. We investigated cholera serology, epidemiology, and the geographical distribution of cholera in Africa and the Middle East in 2022 and 2023. We reviewed detection methods, such as rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and treatments, such as antibiotics and phage therapy. Finally, this review explored oral cholera vaccines (OCVs), and the vaccine shortage crisis.

Methods

We carried out a systematic search in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MEDLINE, and Embase, for studies on cholera using the following keywords: ((Cholera) OR (Vibrio cholera) and (Coronavirus) OR (COVID-19) OR (SARS-CoV2) OR (The Middle East) OR (Africa)).

Results and Conclusions

Cholera outbreaks have increased dramatically, mainly in Africa and many Middle Eastern countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the attention devoted to cholera and disrupted diagnosis and treatment services, as well as vaccination initiatives. Most of the cholera cases in Africa and the Middle East were reported in Malawi and Syria, respectively, in 2022. RDTs are effective in the early detection of cholera epidemics, especially with limited advanced resources, which is the case in much of Africa. By offering both direct and indirect protection, expanding the use of OCV will significantly reduce the burden of current cholera outbreaks in Africa and the Middle East.

Non-serogroup O1/O139 agglutinable Vibrio cholerae: a phylogenetically and genealogically neglected yet emerging potential pathogen of clinical relevance

Somatic antigen agglutinable type-1/139 Vibrio cholerae (SAAT-1/139-Vc) members or O1/O139 V. cholerae have been described by various investigators as pathogenic due to their increasing virulence potential and production of choleragen. Reported cholera outbreak cases around the world have been associated with these choleragenic V. cholerae with high case fatality affecting various human and animals. These virulent Vibrio members have shown genealogical and phylogenetic relationship with the avirulent somatic antigen non-agglutinable strains of 1/139 V. cholerae (SANAS-1/139- Vc) or O1/O139 non-agglutinating V. cholerae (O1/O139-NAG-Vc). Reports on implication of O1/O139-NAGVc members in most sporadic cholera/cholera-like cases of diarrhea, production of cholera toxin and transmission via consumption and/or contact with contaminated water/seafood are currently on the rise. Some reported sporadic cases of cholera outbreaks and observed change in nature has also been tracable to these non-agglutinable Vibrio members (O1/O139-NAGVc) yet there is a sustained paucity of research interest on the non-agglutinable V. cholerae members. The emergence of fulminating extraintestinal and systemic vibriosis is another aspect of SANAS-1/139- Vc implication which has received low attention in terms of research driven interest. This review addresses the need to appraise and continually expand research based studies on the somatic antigen non-serogroup agglutinable type-1/139 V.cholerae members which are currently prevalent in studies of water bodies, fruits/vegetables, foods and terrestrial environment. Our opinion is amassed from interest in integrated surveillance studies, management/control of cholera outbreaks as well as diarrhea and other disease-related cases both in the rural, suburban and urban metropolis.

Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization's List of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors the spread of diseases globally and maintains a list of diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. Currently listed diseases include Chikungunya, cholera, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, Hendra virus infection, influenza, Lassa fever, Marburg virus disease, Neisseria meningitis, MERS-CoV, monkeypox, Nipah virus infection, novel coronavirus (COVID-19), plague, Rift Valley fever, SARS, smallpox, tularemia, yellow fever, and Zika virus disease. The associated pathogens are increasingly important on the global stage. The majority of these diseases have neurological manifestations. Those with less frequent neurological manifestations may also have important consequences. This is highlighted now in particular through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and reinforces that pathogens with the potential to spread rapidly and widely, in spite of concerted global efforts, may affect the nervous system. We searched the scientific literature, dating from 1934 to August 2020, to compile data on the cause, epidemiology, clinical presentation, neuroimaging features, and treatment of each of the diseases of epidemic or pandemic potential as viewed through a neurologist's lens. We included articles with an abstract or full text in English in this topical and scoping review. Diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential can be spread directly from human to human, animal to human, via mosquitoes or other insects, or via environmental contamination. Manifestations include central neurologic conditions (meningitis, encephalitis, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, seizures), peripheral and cranial nerve syndromes (sensory neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, ophthalmoplegia), post-infectious syndromes (acute inflammatory polyneuropathy), and congenital syndromes (fetal microcephaly), among others. Some diseases have not been well-characterized from a neurological standpoint, but all have at least scattered case reports of neurological features. Some of the diseases have curative treatments available while in other cases, supportive care remains the only management option. Regardless of the pathogen, prompt, and aggressive measures to control the spread of these agents are the most important factors in lowering the overall morbidity and mortality they can cause.

Neuroinfección por Vibrio cholerae no O1/ no O139 secundaria a la derivación ventriculoperitoneal. Reporte de caso

La infección de la derivación ventriculoperitoneal es una de las complicaciones más frecuentes en este procedimiento. Vibrio cholerae O1 y O139 es una bacteria gram negativa conocida principalmente por ser la responsable del cólera epidémico. No obstante, existen serotipos no O1/no O139 capaces de causar afecciones extraintestinales, entre ellas se han reportado casos de neuroinfección. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con 9 meses de edad que posterior a la colocación de una derivación ventriculoperitoneal como tratamiento de hidrocefalia obstructiva congénita, presentó un cuadro de neuroinfección y el síndrome de malfunción valvular; se pudo aislar la Vibrio cholerae no O1/ no O139 en el líquido cefalorraquídeo y en la punta del catéter. Es el primer reporte en la literatura en la que se aísla la Vibrio cholerae no O1/ no O139 en líquido cefalorraquídeo secundario a infección de una derivación ventriculoperitoneal.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 bacteraemia: description of three cases in the Netherlands and a literature review

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 serogroup (VCNO) bacteraemia is a severe condition with a high case-fatality rate. We report three cases diagnosed in the Netherlands, identified during a national microbiological congress, and provide a literature review on VCNO bacteraemia. A search strategy including synonyms for 'VCNO' and 'bacteraemia' was applied to PubMed, Medline, Web of Science and Embase databases. The three cases were reported in elderly male patients after fish consumption and/or surface water contact. The literature search yielded 82 case reports on 90 cases and six case series. Thirty case reports were from Asia (30/90; 33%), concerned males (67/90; 74%), and around one third (38/90; 42%) involved a history of alcohol abuse and/or liver cirrhosis The presenting symptom often was gastroenteritis (47/90; 52%) which occurred after seafood consumption in 32% of the cases (15/47).Aside from the most frequent symptom being fever, results of case series concurred with these findings. Published cases also included rare presentations e.g. endophthalmitis and neonatal meningitis. Based on the limited data available, cephalosporins seemed the most effective treatment. Although mainly reported in Asia, VCNO bacteraemia occurs worldwide. While some risk factors for VCNO were identified in this study, the source of infection remains often unclear. Clinical presentation may vary greatly and therefore a quick microbiological diagnosis is indispensable.

Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia: case report and literature review

Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae (NOVC) are increasingly frequently observed ubiquitous microorganisms occasionally responsible for intestinal and extra-intestinal infections. Most cases involve self-limiting gastroenteritis or ear and wound infections in immunocompetent patients. Bacteraemia, which have been described in patients with predisposing factors, are rare and poorly known, both on the clinical and therapeutic aspects. We describe a case of NOVC bacteraemia and a systematic literature review in PubMed conducted up to November 2014 using a combination of the following search terms: “Vibrio cholerae non-O1” and “bacter(a)emia”. The case was a 70 year-old healthy male subject returning from Senegal and suffering from NOVC bacteraemia associated with liver abscesses. Disease evolution was favourable after 2 months’ therapy (ceftriaxone then ciprofloxacin). Three hundred and fifty cases of NOVC bacteraemia have been identified in the literature. The majority of patients were male (77 %), with a median age of 56 years and presenting with predisposing conditions (96 %), such as cirrhosis (55 %) or malignant disease (20 %). Diarrhoea was inconstant (42 %). Mortality was 33 %. The source of infection, identified in only 25 % of cases, was seafood consumption (54 %) or contaminated water (30 %). Practitioners should be aware of these infections, in order to warn patients with predisposing conditions, on the risk of ingesting raw or undercooked seafood or bathing in potentially infected waters.

Clinical manifestations of non-O1 Vibrio cholerae infections

BACKGROUND

Infections caused by non-O1 Vibrio cholera are uncommon. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with non-O1 V. cholera infections.

METHODS

The clinical charts of all patients with non-O1 V. cholera infections and who were treated in two hospitals in Taiwan were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

From July 2009 to June 2014, a total of 83 patients with non-O1 V. cholera infections were identified based on the databank of the bacteriology laboratories of two hospitals. The overall mean age was 53.3 years, and men comprised 53 (63.9%) of the patients. Liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus were the two most common underlying diseases, followed by malignancy. The most common type of infection was acute gastroenteritis (n = 45, 54.2%), followed by biliary tract infection (n = 12, 14.5%) and primary bacteremia (n = 11, 13.3%). Other types of infection, such as peritonitis (n = 5, 6.0%), skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (n = 5, 6.0%), urinary tract infection (n = 3, 3.6%) and pneumonia (2, 2.4%), were rare. July and June were the most common months of occurrence of V. cholera infections. The overall in-hospital mortality of 83 patients with V. cholera infections was 7.2%, but it was significantly higher for patients with primary bacteremia, hemorrhage bullae, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory failure, or admission to an ICU. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that in-hospital mortality was significantly associated with acute respiratory failure (odds ratio, 60.47; 95% CI, 4.79-763.90, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-O1 V. cholera infections can cause protean disease, especially in patients with risk factors and during warm-weather months. The overall mortality of 83 patients with non-O1 V. cholera infections was only 7.2%; however, this value varied among different types of infection.

Clinical manifestation and prognostic factors of non-cholerae Vibrio infections

Infections caused by non-cholerae Vibrio are uncommon. From July 2004 to June 2010, a total of 218 isolates of Vibrio species were identified from 171 patients treated at Chi Mei Medical Center, Taiwan. A total of 173 isolates of non-cholerae Vibrio species were isolated from 127 patients. The most common type of infection was acute gastroenteritis (59.8%), followed by skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (26.0%) and primary bacteremia (11.0%). Other types of infection included biliary tract infection, peritonitis, and acute otitis media, each at a rate of less than 2%. For patients with acute gastroenteritis, V. parahaemolyticus comprised 92.1% of cases, but V. vulnificus was the most common pathogen causing SSTI. All episodes of bacteremia were caused by V. vulnificus. The all-cause mortality rate was 18.8% of 32 patients with SSTI and the fatality rate was significantly higher among patients with decreased albumin, elevated lactate, use of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the presence of shock. In conclusion, non-cholerae Vibrio species caused protean manifestations that vary with the infecting Vibrio species. This epidemiological study helps physicians to better understand the clinical characteristics of infections caused by different non-cholerae Vibrio species.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1,non-O139 isolated from pleural effusion following total gastrectomy

We isolated non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae from pleural effusion in a patient with recurred advanced gastric cancer after total gastrectomy. We also recovered the organism from the patient's stool culture. The patient did not experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea except heartburn and epigastric discomfort from stomach cancer before admission. The suspected route of infection is directly from the gastrointestinal tract through the previous surgical wounds. After antibiotic treatment, no more V. cholerae was isolated and the patient was well discharged from the hospital. This is the first report of V. cholerae infection associated with pleural effusion in a long-term latent carrier of the organism.

Vibrio cholerae (non-O1, non-O139) sepsis in a child with Fanconi anemia

A 9-year-old female child who was a known case of Fanconi anemia was admitted to hospital because of fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. Blood culture at the time of admission yielded growth of Gram-negative curved rod that was identified as Vibrio cholerae (non-O1, non-O139), whereas repeated fecal cultures were negative for enteropathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first case of V. cholerae (non-O1, non-O139) septicemia associated with Fanconi anemia.