Vibrio cholerae species can be divided into 2 major groups: cholera-causing strains of the serogroups O1 and O139, and non-O1 V. cholerae (NOVC) [1]. Non-O1 V. cholerae (NOVC) typically does not elaborate cholera toxin. It is also antigenically distinct from the V. cholerae O1 and O139 strains, which cause epidemic cholera in many countries. Although NOVC strains are usually associated with sporadic diarrhoea, some outbreaks have been reported. These strains have also been associated with skin infections, cholecystitis, meningitis and septicaemia. While gastrointestinal infections caused by NOVC usually have a favourable outcome, invasive infections may be fatal [2]. Immunocompromised patients, particularly those with hepatic cirrhosis or haematological malignancies, are at highest risk for septicaemia with NOVC [2,3]. In this paper, we report on 2 residents of Beirut who were diagnosed with NOVC and treated in a large public facility. They are, to our knowledge, the first reported cases of severe NOVC infection in Lebanon.
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Feghali et al. (2011) studied this question.