Department of Digestive Disease Information and Research, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Med Sci Monit. 2009 Oct;15(10):PH115-120.
Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) is a seafood-borne infectious pathogen that can be lethal to humans. The infection has been correlated with pre-existing liver disease, particularly liver cirrhosis. Awareness of V. vulnificus infection among Japanese citizens is low, despite the increasing number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge of patients with liver disease regarding V. vulnificus infection.
MATERIAL/METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to patients with chronic liver disease who had been treated by liver specialists at 14 medical institutes.
Of 1,336 patients, 304 (22.8%) had liver cirrhosis, and 732 (54.8%) had comorbidities of this disease. Only 14.5% (194/1,336) of patients had knowledge of V. vulnificus infection. Of 304 patients with liver cirrhosis, 17.4% (53/304) of the patients had knowledge of V. vulnificus infection. Of 60 patients with liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus, 11 (18.3%) patients had knowledge of V. vulnificus infections. Even when the patients with high risk factors such as liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus had knowledge of V. vulnificus infections, most ate raw seafood without regard to season.
Patients with chronic liver diseases and their physicians need to be better educated about V. vulnificus infection and its prevention.
创伤弧菌（Vibrio vulnificus，V. vulnificus）是一种食源性传染性病原体，对人类具有致命性。该感染与先前存在的肝脏疾病有关，特别是肝硬化。尽管肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）患者数量不断增加，但日本公民对创伤弧菌感染的认识水平较低。本研究旨在评估肝病患者对创伤弧菌感染的认知水平。
材料/方法：向 14 家医疗机构的肝脏病专家治疗的慢性肝病患者发送了问卷。
在 1336 名患者中，304 名（22.8%）患有肝硬化，732 名（54.8%）患有该疾病的合并症。仅有 14.5%（194/1336）的患者了解创伤弧菌感染。在 304 名肝硬化患者中，有 17.4%（53/304）的患者了解创伤弧菌感染。在 60 名患有肝硬化和糖尿病的患者中，有 11 名（18.3%）患者了解创伤弧菌感染。即使是患有肝硬化和糖尿病等高危因素的患者了解创伤弧菌感染，他们也大多会在不考虑季节的情况下食用生海鲜。
慢性肝病患者及其医生需要更好地了解创伤弧菌感染及其预防措施。
