Vibrio vulnificus infection of the lower limb after fish spine injuries.

Five patients with soft tissue infection of the lower extremity caused by Vibrio vulnificus after penetrating injuries by fish spines are described. Despite previously reported dismal rates of morbidity and mortality associated with Vibrio septicemia, early measures including wide-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and surgical excision of devitalized tissues resulted in complete resolution in all cases. Although penetrating injury is the common route of infection, indirect seeding may occur by the contamination of open wounds or injury to a limb previously submerged in contaminated water.