Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia: A case report on an unusual presentation

Infections by non-O1/non-O139 serogroups of Vibrio cholerae (NOVC) are increasing worldwide. Infected patients usually display self-limiting diarrhoea or external ear and wound infections. We present a rare case of bacteraemia secondary to NOVC infection. A 39-year-old male presented with acute onset of dyspnoea, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and chronic bipedal oedema. He was hypoxic, acidotic, tachypnoeic, displayed tachycardia and an altered level of consciousness. The patient was assessed to be in congestive cardiac failure with acute gastroenteritis and hypoglycaemia, and was started on empiric co–amoxiclav. The blood culture flagged positive with Vibrio cholerae which was toxin negative and typed as NOVC. Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated in the emergency department and demised despite resuscitation efforts. This case demonstrates the possible severity of NOVC bacteraemia and its associated mortality, highlights the need for identification of potential risk factors and emphasizes the importance of sending appropriately collected samples for laboratory testing.