Bacteremic cellulitis caused by non-serogroup O1 Vibrio cholerae acquired in a freshwater inland lake

Abstract

The number of reported cases of infections with non-serogroup O1 Vibrio cholerae in the United States has increased recently. These cases have almost invariably been associated with travel, seawater exposure, or the ingestion of shellfish. We report a case of bacteremic cellulitis caused by non-O1 V. cholerae that was acquired in a freshwater inland lake in northern Illinois. The organism is more widely distributed than generally appreciated, and the potential for infection in patients without the usual risk factors exists.