74-year-old man undergoes leg amputation after Vibrio vulnificus infection

8 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Apr 23

Doctors in Florida treated the man after he contracted the bacteria from a Gulf Coast swim, leading to the loss of half his right leg and skin grafts on his arm.
The infection, caused by Vibrio vulnificus entering an open wound, progressed rapidly and required urgent surgery to prevent further spread. The patient’s remaining limbs healed well six months post-operation.
Vibrio vulnificus infections remain rare in the U.S., but cases are rising due to climate change and extreme weather, with Florida recording a record 82 cases in 2024 after Hurricane Helene.

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