Bacterium
Vibrio vulnificus
Marine vibrio, wound and shellfish sepsis
VIB-ree-oh vul-NIF-ih-kus
High-yield clue
Marine vibrio causing severe wound infection or sepsis after warm saltwater exposure or raw oysters, notably in chronic liver disease.
Overview
A halophilic marine Gram-negative rod studied as a cause of aggressive wound infection and rapidly progressive sepsis, especially in people with chronic liver disease or iron overload.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Curved rod
- Vibrionaceae
- Facultative anaerobe
- Halophilic
Lab & identification clues
- Oxidase positive vocabulary
- Lactose fermenter (unusual for vibrios) concept
- Green colonies on TCBS
- Requires salt for growth vocabulary
Associations
- Raw oyster and warm-seawater exposure vocabulary
- Chronic liver disease / iron overload risk vocabulary
- Hemorrhagic bullae presentation vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus
- Aeromonas hydrophila
Frequently asked questions
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
A halophilic marine Gram-negative rod studied as a cause of aggressive wound infection and rapidly progressive sepsis, especially in people with chronic liver disease or iron overload.
What is the Gram stain of Vibrio vulnificus?
Vibrio vulnificus is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Vibrio vulnificus?
Lab clues for Vibrio vulnificus include Oxidase positive vocabulary, Lactose fermenter (unusual for vibrios) concept, Green colonies on TCBS, and Requires salt for growth vocabulary.
What is Vibrio vulnificus commonly confused with?
Vibrio vulnificus is commonly confused with Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.