ATTENTION to these first signs of…
A 71-year-old man experienced serious health complications after eating sushi, ultimately requiring the partial removal of his hand and forearm due to an aggressive infection.
Roughly 12 hours after consuming the raw seafood, the man began to experience swelling in his left hand, which became significantly enlarged and extremely painful.
Large blisters and bruising began to appear, and doctors later confirmed that the South Korean man had developed a bacterial infection traced to the seafood he had consumed.
Medical professionals attempted to treat the condition by draining the blisters and removing affected tissue, alongside a course of antibiotics. However, the infection progressed, and painful ulcers formed, causing extensive tissue damage that could not be reversed.
The man sought medical attention in Jeonju, South Korea—about 118 miles south of Seoul—after enduring a high fever and intense discomfort in his hand for two days.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, he reported that the symptoms began just 12 hours after eating seafood, with large blisters appearing rapidly. One blister on the palm of his hand measured 3.5 by 4.5 cm—roughly the size of a golf ball—and additional lesions extended across the back of his hand and forearm.
Doctors diagnosed him with vibriosis, an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium found in some raw or undercooked seafood.
The man, who was also living with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis, faced added vulnerability to infection and complications due to his existing health conditions.
Despite multiple medical interventions—including surgery and two types of intravenous antibiotics—his condition worsened. Deep tissue ulcers began to develop, leading to necrosis, or tissue death, which can be difficult to control.
People with diabetes are at particular risk for complications from skin ulcers because the condition can impair blood circulation and slow the healing process, making recovery more difficult.
Approximately 25 days after eating the contaminated seafood, doctors determined that further surgical removal of the severely affected parts of his hand and forearm was necessary to contain the spread of the infection and preserve his overall health.
Vibriosis is estimated to affect around 80,000 Americans each year—roughly one in every 4,000 people. It is most commonly contracted by eating raw contaminated seafood, such as oysters or shellfish, or through open wounds exposed to seawater containing the bacteria.
Most healthy individuals recover from the infection without serious issues within a few days.
However, people with weakened immune systems—such as the elderly man in this case—are more susceptible to serious complications.
Fortunately, the patient recovered well after the procedure and was later discharged from the hospital in stable condition.