Alabama Woman Recovers from Vibrio vulnificus Infection After Coastal Injury

An Alabama woman is undergoing a yearlong recovery after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, following a foot injury during a coastal outing.

On Labor Day, 30-year-old Summerlin Skipworth injured her feet near a boat launch in Orange Beach, Alabama. The following night, she experienced severe pain and swelling in one foot, which she initially suspected was a fracture. The next day, a coworker noticed the wound was oozing a white discharge and advised her to seek medical attention. Skipworth was subsequently diagnosed with a Vibrio vulnificus infection, a bacterium found in warm coastal waters.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause severe skin infections and sepsis, with a mortality rate of about 25% for wound infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates approximately 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur annually in the U.S. In 2025, Gulf Coast states have reported a surge in Vibrio infections, with Louisiana alone confirming 17 cases and four deaths by August, compared to an average of seven cases and one death annually over the past decade.

Skipworth's treatment includes daily intravenous antibiotics and oral medications, with at least one antibiotic prescribed for the next year. She expressed gratitude for her recovery and hopes her experience will raise awareness about the risks of Vibrio infections.

Health officials advise individuals with open wounds to avoid contact with warm salt or brackish water and to seek immediate medical attention if signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or discharge, develop after exposure. Prompt treatment is crucial, as Vibrio vulnificus infections can progress rapidly and may require aggressive interventions, including debridement or amputation in severe cases.