RECURRENT NON-0-1 VIBRIO-CHOLERAE BACTEREMIA IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Background. Episodes of bacteremia with non-0:1 Vibrio cholerae are ra rely reported, even though the organism is endemic along the Gulf Coas t of the United States. Recurrent episodes of bacteremia with non-0:1 V. cholerae are described even more rarely. A patient is reported who had multiple myeloma and experienced two episodes of bacteremia with n on-0:1 V. cholerae. Methods. Hospital records and the medical literatu re were reviewed, and the organism was serotyped by the Alabama State Laboratory. Results. The patient had no prodromal illnesses or diarrhe a with either episode of bacteremia. Treatment with empiric antibiotic therapy resulted in successful resolution of his bacteremia, which is fatal in almost 50% of reported cases in patients with malignant neop lasms. Conclusions. This is the first reported case of non-0: 1 V. cho lerae bacteremia occurring in a patient with multiple myeloma. Both hi s initial episode and a second episode of bacteremia responded to broa d-spectrum antibiotics, which are used as empiric therapy for patients with hematologic malignancies and fever. Emphasis is placed on the pa ucity of clinical manifestations and the need for empiric therapy for non-0:1 V. cholerae infection in patients with hematologic malignancie s.