O1 and non-O1 Vibrio cholerae bacteremia produced by hemolytic strains

Vibrio cholerae are Gram-negative bacteria capable of producing serious infections. They are differentiated into O1 and non-O1 serogroups, depending on their ability to agglutinate with specific antiserum. In contrast to non-O1 V. cholerae, which are more prone to invading the bloodstream, V. cholerae O1 is rarely the cause of bacteremia. We describe 2 cases of O and non-O1 V. cholerae bacteremia in patients with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis. We postulate that the hemolytic properties of the isolates contributed to their virulence in immunocompromised hosts.