# Non-O1, Non-O139 Vibrio cholerae Bacteremia in an Autoimmune Pancreatitis Patient

## TL;DR

A patient with autoimmune pancreatitis developed a rare bloodstream infection caused by non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae, likely from contaminated seafood.

## Contribution

Reports a case of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae bacteremia in a high-risk patient with autoimmune pancreatitis.

## Key findings

- Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae can cause severe bloodstream infections in immunocompromised individuals.
- The infection was successfully treated with third-generation cephalosporin.
- The likely source of infection was contaminated seafood consumed at a banquet.

## Abstract

Over 200 different serogroups of Vibrio cholerae based on O-polysaccharide specificity have been described worldwide, including the two most important serogroups, O1 and O139. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae serogroups generally do not produce the cholera-causing toxin but do sporadically cause gastroenteritis and extra-intestinal infections. Recently, however, bloodstream infections caused by non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae are being increasingly reported, and these infections are associated with high mortality in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae bacteremia in a patient with autoimmune pancreatitis and stenosis of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. The clinical manifestations of bacteremia were fever and mild digestive symptoms. The blood cultures showed V. cholerae, which was identified as a non-O1, non-O139 serogroup by slide agglutination tests and PCR. The bloodstream infection of the patient was likely caused by the consumption of contaminated seafood at a banquet. The patient recovered after the administration of a third-generation cephalosporin. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection presents with or without gastrointestinal manifestations; close attention should be paid to the possibility of disseminated non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection in high-risk patients.