Vibrio Vulnificus Saltwater Infection

All folks who fish and swim in our Gulf waters be careful and attentive. My son was invited to go on a trip this weekend out of Grand Isle for snapper. There were 7 people total on the boat. They fished for red snapper 24 miles out, then fished for mangrove snapper about 8 miles out. Everyone took a swim, but only two, my son and a friend, handled frozen pogy and chumed. Both had a small cut on a hand. Last night they both had swollen red hands with red lines going up their arms. They both sought immediate medical attention. They received several shots and 3 types of oral anti-biotics that will cover several of the Vibrio bateria strains. I have googled this to get more info, and the Center for Disease Control has had over 900 cases of this reported since 1998, almost all in the Gulf states. Take note if you have cuts, abrasions, and wounds. I always take a liquid anti-septic with me in case I have a nick or cut and use it frequently and wash the area well.If you notice any signs of soreness, swelling, or red lines, get immediate medical attention. This stuff works fast, especially if you have diabetes or any other condition that can affect the immune system. The pictures I saw of people who thought it was something else and tried to treat it with topical medication was not pretty. People have had limbs amputated and it could even be fatal.

Happened a couple years ago to a friend of mine, his name on here was lahotsauce, he missed over a year of work, had to sell his boat, and his whole life was changed by this, be careful out there.

Anyone out fishing salt water should have a container of bleach w/ them . bleach kills the bacteria better than alcohol . Yes it burns if you have cuts and scrapes but look at the alternative?

My son's hand/arm started to swell bad last night, then blistered bad, felt like hand was placed in an open flame. Friend started with same symptoms. Went with him to a micro-bacteria/infectious disease specialists this morning to see if we could get him some relief. Not much he could do except stay on the super strong regiment of antibiotics. This doctor is across from East Jefferson and advises people all over the world on these bacteria.

Use to take a lot of doctors before I retired from my guide business and all said bleach is what is best. I would have some bleach on my boat all the time.

That my dad arm was in hospital for two week still not out the wood yet

This bacteria is some nasty stuff. Hope your Dad recovers and has full use of his arm.

Is this stuff prevalent around Grand Isle? I fished Leeville, GM, and Port Sulphur for many years and never heard anything about it around there. This germ, I hear, is hard on people with liver problems(cirrhosis, etc.) Good luck!

If you go swimming should you bath in bleach water?
Ole fart

If you go swimming should you bath in bleach water?
Ole fart

Curdog us ole farts know quite a few young farts like drew that got ate up by another disease, dumb butt

Better to be though a idiot than to speak and remove all doubt.

Acman, Curdog, Capt. JS....Please do not lose sleep over this boy. Drewb loves to make statements that are completely false. A couple of weeks ago, he made some false statements on a post, I corrected him, he got mad, then he went so far as to bet me as to this facts. I proved him wrong, and he still has not paid me. After that incident, he said he will never post here again. You know, like the little kid who loses the game, takes his toys and goes home mad. His facts are never correct, and he certainly is not a man of his word, in fact I am not sure he is a man.

OK you two, behave. Take your personal differences somewhere else.

Hey I'm serious. I like to wade fish and I would like to take the advice about the bleach spray when I exit the water.
I assume every square inch of the body should be covered.
Is that correct?
Old fart

Intact skin is the first line of defense against infection by Vibrio and many other infectious microorganisms. When you have a cut, scrape, wound, or any area where the skin is damaged, this is an entry port for these infectious agents to enter. Therefore, if the skin is intact, a normal bath or shower would probably be sufficient. If you have nicks, cuts, scrapes, etc., this is when the diluted bleach would be beneficial. It would not be wise to use undiluted bleach because it is caustic to the skin and will cause damage to the skin.

if u have a cut,sore or if u prick your finger with something, like a shrimp or fishing hook, i would definetly use 100% bleach to wash it!!!! it ain't like u are soaking in it!!! it's like when my kids stood in a pile of red ants, just pour pure bleach on the bites, it kills the poison real quick, then just rinse off with fresh water after!!! 1 to 10, nope!! hello drew-b, thought u were gone????? signed, OLD FART!!!!!

Not trying to start a war of words or anything, but I want to put out some facts. Household bleach is approximately 5% sodium hypochlorite. If you dilute bleach 1:10 with water, the resulting concentration is approximately 0.5% sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite in a concentration of 0.025% has been shown to be effective against Vibrio vulnificus. (0.025% would be like diluting bleach 1:200 with water). Therefore, 1:10 bleach dilution is more than enough as a disinfectant and is a lot safer for use on your skin and tissues. I am a pharmacist with 31 years of experience in the hospital setting.

Hey specfisher, what about hydrogen peroxide? A little more convenient than mixing up bleach. But is it as effective? Thanks. Good luck.

Hydrogen peroxide is NOT near as effective in killing the vibrio virus as bleach.
Any time i get a cut ,scrape stick from a shrimp etc. I rinse w/ a 50 / 50 mix of bleach and water.
Pure bleach may cause skin irritation. but i use it if i don't have a bottle to mix in.

I have not heard or read any information concerning the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide to prevent an infection from vibrio vulnificus. Sorry I can't say one way or another.

Thanks for the reply, spec. Let me rephrase the question. Is there something other than a 'do it yourself' bleach mixture that one could purchase across the counter at a pharmacy that would kill the vibrio? Thanks and good luck.

Spec...Thanks for a very informative reply.

My son and his friend both recovered rather well after being on a regiment of antibiotics. I have always just brought a store bought antiseptic with me to place on any nicks or cuts. I know my first aid training taught us that a mixture of bleach and water was a suitable antiseptic. My concern would be a hook puncture or a fish fin puncture. I do not believe you could be assured that the antiseptic actually got in the puncture the way the skin closes back on a small puncture wound.

That is why if i get stuck by anything I stop what ever i'm doing bleach it and squeeze it to make it bleed.
You are right though a puncture wound is the hardest there is to get an antiseptic into.

The boomers are getting to be ole farts! I know, I'm one! A boomer, that is!

This is update on my dad arm 51/2 weeks starting to look good I AM GLAD MY DAD IS AN OLD FART BECAUSE IF IT WAS THAT YOUNG FART HE BE 6FEET UNDER

How did you dad get the infection? Glad he's doing better.

He has a net shop he repair old trawl & skimmer that how he got it

LOL> That's me drew-b. Me and 'mama' are taking the grandkids to the island for a long weekend. Leaving the boat at home and planning on surf fishing, crabbing and eating seafood. This post and pics has got me shopping for a 55 gallon drum of enriched bleach to take along! Good luck!

lets cut drew-b a little slack, old farts??? you know, he is always right and never wrong in his own mine, old farts and future old farts??? future old fart, i think, thats you, drew-b!!!! hum-um-um-um-um???? anyway, thanks for your usual, typical comment!!! no hard feelings dude???

As far as the effectiveness of the readily available antiseptics against Vibrio vulnificus, there isn't really a lot of concrete information out there. My best recommendation would be to use good old soap and water and clean the areas of cuts, scrapes, abrasions, etc as soon as possible and keep the affected area(s) as clean as possible. I would do this even if I used the bleach solution. The body's immune system in healthy people will play a big part in preventing an infection. Of course, people with weaker immune systems (elderly, certain disease states, chemotherapy and other immunosuppressive drugs) would be more succeptible to infection. And most importantly, if signs/symptoms of infection do appear, seek medical attention ASAP. Do not wait till tomorrow. Also, make sure the physician is aware of the circumstances (ie: exposure to salt water environment in warm/hot weather). Making mention of Vibrio would not be a bad idea either. I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck fishing!

What about some of those liquid band aids to seal your open wounds before you go out fishing

I finally convinced my R.N. wife to come to look at my fishing website! When she looked at the picture of cranedog's dad's arm she knew it was Vibrio and said that an 'across the counter treatment' for it would be a antibacterial soap called 'Hibiclens'. She is an industrial nurse and said she uses it to clean wounds but it is a little pricey. She also commented that the diluted bleach would also be effective.
Thanks for the reply specfisher. And cranedog I hope your dad gets past this soon. Good luck.

Often times when I am fishing I will taste the water to judge salinity levels. I never really gave this any thought before but has anyone heard of someone being infected this way? I may have to stop doing this in the warmer months and just go off of water clarity.

This should be safe if you mix the water 50:50 with Crown Royal or a good Scotch!

To All listen up I was stabbed by a stingray not long ago Went to the hospital Hot water is the cure for the pain but bleach is not the cure Yes it is better than nothing just like peroxide but they also kill healthy tissue Buy a bottle of iodine solution it kills the germs This is not me saying this this is the Doctor saying Once again bleach water is better than nothing

Sweet!! Thanks for the insight! will def try it out. You got me really hyped up now for finding some fish. Thank you much! Madison Mobile Truck & Trailer Repair