Infections and Intoxications from the Ocean: Risks of the Shore

Emerging challenges in aquaculture: Current perspectives and human health implications

Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms for human consumption, has become an essential contributor to global food security. However, it faces numerous challenges that threaten its sustainability and capacity to meet the growing demand for animal protein. This review investigates these challenges, with a particular focus on environmental degradation, public health risks, and ethical dilemmas posed by genetic interventions in fish breeding. Despite the promise of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in enhancing fish production, their integration into aquaculture remains controversial due to potential risks and unresolved ethical questions. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these pressing issues and propose pathways for sustainable aquaculture development. With the global population increasing and the demand for animal protein intensifying, aquaculture holds great potential as a sustainable food source. However, its contribution to global protein demand remains minimal, projected to decline to as low as 4% in the coming decades. Furthermore, aquaculture's environmental impact, including pollution of water bodies and ecosystem disruption, poses serious threats to biodiversity and public health. Addressing these challenges is critical for ensuring the long-term viability of aquaculture. By exploring the intersection of sustainability, ethics, and innovation, this review provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers seeking to advance sustainable aquaculture practices. This study aims to evaluate the current state of aquaculture and identify key challenges related to environmental sustainability, public health, and ethical considerations. It seeks to explore the potential of sustainable practices and genetic interventions to address these challenges while balancing the need for increased production and societal acceptance. The ultimate goal is to offer practical recommendations for fostering a resilient and ethical aquaculture industry capable of meeting future global food demands.

Emergency Management Strategies and Antimicrobial Considerations for Nonmammalian Marine Vertebrate Penetrating Trauma in North America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii: A Review Article

There are numerous emergency department visits in the United States for all types of marine animal injuries each year. These injuries may result in significant morbidity or mortality if not managed appropriately. Accurate identification of the offending species, thorough wound hygiene, and judicious use of antibiotics are important for preventing infections. This review aims to describe management strategies and antimicrobial considerations for nonmammalian marine vertebrate penetrating trauma in North America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. A literature search was performed to identify studies on this subject. This literature consisted of clinical case reports and case series. Reports extracted included those on sharks, barracuda, eels, catfish, stingrays, lionfish, stonefish, and scorpionfish. The majority of reported trauma occurred to beachgoers, fishermen, or commercial aquarium employees who routinely handle these animals. Injury patterns depended on the species but most commonly affected the lower extremities. Infections were seen from saltwater bacteria, human skin flora, or marine animal oral flora. After thorough wound irrigation and exploration, most authors recommended prophylactic antimicrobials to cover Vibrio species, in addition to other gram-negative and gram-positive species. The literature is notable for the lack of controlled studies. Some authors recommended radiographic and/or ultrasonographic imaging to identify retained foreign bodies, such as spines, sand, or teeth.

Analysis of clinical characteristics, pathogen infection, and drug sensitivity of Marine injury patients: A cross-sectional study

The infection rate is high in patients injured at sea, and because of the unique distribution of marine microorganisms, the infection is often not easily controlled effectively with the empirical application of antibiotics. This study aims to consider the clinical characteristics and pathogen infection and drug susceptibility of patients injured at sea. From 2019 to 2021, there were 635 patients injured at sea in Rizhao People's Hospital. We assess the patient's basic condition, while performing bacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing on wound exudate or pus from infected patients. Among the 635 patients injured at sea, 195 people were infected, and the infection rate was 30.71%. Infected patients are usually older, have longer prehospital visits, and have lower normal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin. The causes of injury in infected patients were mainly avulsion and puncture injuries, and the types of injuries were mainly bone fracture, vascular injury, and nerve injury. A total of 305 strains of pathogenic bacteria were cultured in 195 patients. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 77.05% (235 strains), of which Proteus was the most. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 22.95% (70 strains), of which Staphylococcus aureus was the most. Gram-negative bacilli were sensitive to aminoglycosides, lactam antibiotics, carbapenems antibiotics, sulfonamides, quinolones, fourth-generation cephalosporins, and antibacterial drugs containing enzyme inhibitors, while most of the bacteria were resistant to penicillins, first-generation cephalosporins, and second-generation cephalosporins. Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to quinuptin/dafoptin, rifampicin, linezolid, gentamicin, tigacycline, and vancomycin but resistant to penicillin antibiotics. Due to the particularity of marine injuries, patients are prone to infection. Pathogen culture and drug sensitivity analysis play an important role in guiding antiinfective treatment for marine injured patients.

Approaches to safe living and diet after solid organ transplantation

SOT recipients are at high risk for developing severe infectious complications following discharge from the hospital. Comprehensive anticipatory guidance surrounding everyday lifestyle choices can potentially prevent exposure to infectious agents from the environment. This paper reviews the risks that pediatric and adolescent SOT recipients encounter through exposures such as household contacts, outdoor activities, travel, animal exposures, and dietary choices. Although strong evidence is lacking, this paper makes recommendations aimed at minimizing the risk of infectious complications and hospitalization in pediatric SOT recipients.