Fish Spine Infection
Alexander Nudelman, Gordon Edelson, Amos Linden, Raoul Raz
Orthopedic Dept., Poriya Hospital and Dept. of Infections Diseases, HaEmek Hospital, Afula
Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative bacterium living in warm salty water that produces a spectrum of human disease which may progress to devastating, sometimes fatal infections in susceptible individuals. Such infections have rarely been reported in Israel. However, over the past few months we have been seeing a sharp increase in V. vulnificus infections with a common history of injury to extremities by the sharp spines of Tilapia zillii, ("amnon" or St. Peter's fish). Clinical suspicion and prompt intervention prevent the untoward consequences of misdiagnosis or delay.