re: Woman dies of flesh eating bacteria contracted from Westwego oysters

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they said she was crabbing... open wound in dirty water? how do they know it was an oyster?

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people can become infected with vibrio after eating raw or under-cooked shellfish or by exposing open wounds to brackish water.

LeBlanc had been in contact with both

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This is why I don't eat anything raw. Give me charbroiled oysters all day long

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or by exposing open wounds to brackish water.

LeBlanc had been in contact with both

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V. vulnificus is an extremely virulent bacterium that can cause three types of infections:

Acute gastroenteritis from eating raw or undercooked shellfish: V. vulnificus causes an infection often incurred after eating seafood, especially raw or undercooked oysters. It does not alter the appearance, taste, or odor of oysters.[8] Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
Necrotizing wound infections can occur in injured skin exposed to contaminated marine water. V. vulnificus bacteria can enter the body through open wounds when swimming or wading in infected waters,[4] or by puncture wounds from the spines of fish such as stingrays. People may develop a blistering dermatitis sometimes mistaken for pemphigus or pemphigoid.
Invasive septicemia can occur after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters. V. vulnificus is 80 times more likely to spread into the bloodstream in people with compromised immune systems, especially those with chronic liver disease. When this happens, severe symptoms including blistering skin lesions and septic shock can sometimes lead to death.[9][10] This severe infection may occur regardless of whether the infection began from contaminated food or an open wound.[10]
Among healthy people, ingestion of V. vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In someone with a compromised immune system, particularly those with chronic liver disease, it can infect the bloodstream, causing a severe and life-threatening illness characterized by fever and chills, decreased blood pressure (septic shock), and blistering skin lesions.

V. vulnificus wound infections have a mortality rate around 25%. In people in whom the infection worsens into septicemia, typically following ingestion, the mortality rate rises to 50%. The majority of these people die within the first 48 hours of infection.

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Old wives tale.

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Their was a microbiologist at LSU years ago that was working on a stick test to indicate vibrio presence in oysters.

Can't remember his name.

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Taught pathogenic micro. Something like Sebring or something.

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