Science Cafe' on the Coast: Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Separating Facts from Fiction about Vibrio!

News item published on: 2016-09-01 15:07:16

Science Café on the Coast, a collaboration among The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Library, Harrison County Library System, Long Beach Public Library and Hancock County Library System, will host “Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Separating Facts from Fiction about Vibrio!” on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Bay St. Louis-Hancock County Library.

Presented by Dr. Jay Grimes, professor of marine microbial ecology in the Division of Coastal Sciences at Southern Miss, “Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Separating Facts from Fiction about Vibrio!” seeks to educate attendees about bacteria that causes necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly developing disease of the soft tissues.

With more than 70 percent of cases occurring in individuals with at least one type of risk factor – immunosuppression, diabetes, alcoholism/drug abuse/smoking, malignancies, and chronic systemic diseases – necrotizing fasciitis can also occur in people who appear to be in good health.

In this Science Café on the Coast, this presentation will discuss all types of necrotizing fasciitis, mainly Vibrio vulnificus, due to local interest and concern.

As a professor of marine microbial ecology, the majority of Grimes’ research has focused on the ecology of waterborne human diseases. He recently investigated the applicability of satellite remotely sensed data to predict human health risks from waterborne pathogens, especially Vibrio parahaemolyticus. He also examines antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from water, sediment, fish and bottlenose dolphins in the Mississippi Sound. Grimes received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Drake University and his doctoral degree in microbiology from Colorado State University.

For more information about “Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Separating Facts from Fiction about Vibrio!”, contact Adrienne McPhaul, librarian for Southern Miss Gulf Coast Library, at 228.214.3467 or adrienne.mcphaul@usm.edu. Admission is free and open to the public.