(Stephanie Brown/ Very Well Health) — Vibrio, often referred to as “flesh-eating bacteria,” has gotten a lot of attention recently following reports of a California woman whose limbs were amputated after getting a bacterial infection from undercooked tilapia.
Although health officials later said the woman didn’t test positive for Vibrio, this bacteria is estimated to 80,000 infections in the United States every year. More than half of these cases are linked to contaminated seafood, like raw oysters, but swimming with an open wound in the ocean or brackish water could also lead to an infection.
New piercings, fresh tattoos, and surgical incisions also count as “wounds” in this scenario.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vibrio species causing vibriosis: prevention tips.
Vibrio bacteria don’t always cause serious vibriosis infections. Many cases are mild and include a few days of watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. (…)