Vibrio cholerae non-O1 infection presenting as localized cellulitis

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 characteristically causes gastrointestinal illness but can occasionally be responsible for extra-intestinal infections. The authors report an unusual case of a man presenting with extensive cellulitis that did not improve with conventional antimicrobial therapy. Vibrio cholerae non-O1 was later isolated from a cutaneous bulla. Although he had severe hepatic cirrhosis, the infection remained confined to the cutaneous tissues and he was never bacteremic. He improved dramatically with surgical debridement in conjunction with antibiotics. It is important to consider Vibrio cholerae non-O1 as a cause of cellulitis, especially in endemic areas.