It is not appreciated by most physicians that vibrio infections can be acquired from freshwater exposure. A case of non-O1 Vibrio cholerae urinary tract infection associated with freshwater exposure is reported. The potential for vibrios to grow in brachish water and for summer heat to cause evaporation leading to relative increased salinity in freshwater bodies and the broad geographic range of these occurrences to include North American and both eastern and western Europe is noted. A literature review of vibrio infection acquired from freshwater exposure and the relationship to these epidemiologic and pathophysiologic events is discussed.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Clinical Microbiology, Scott & White Hospital, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
