HJBR Sep/Oct 2025

32 SEP / OCT 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs If successful, however, this treatment could dra- matically reduce mother-to-child HIV transmis- sion rates in high-risk regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of pediatric HIV cases can be found. It may also be adapted to protect against other infectious diseases like malaria, which dis- proportionately affects young children in low- income countries. This research was supported with resources from the Tulane National Primate Research Center base grant of the National Institutes of Health, P51OD011104 and the base grant of the California National Primate Research Center, P51OD011107. Louisiana Department of Health Urges Caution to Prevent Vibrio Vulnificus Infection The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions to prevent infection from Vibrio vulnificus . The department is seeing a higher number of Vibrio vulnificus cases and deaths than are typically reported. So far in 2025, 17 cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported among Louisiana residents. All of these patients were hospitalized, and four of these illnesses resulted in death. During the same time period over the previous 10 years, an average of seven Vibrio vulnificus cases and one death have been reported each year in Louisiana. Of those 17 cases, 75% reported wound/seawa- ter exposure. Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer. Vibrio bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, partic- ularly oysters. Vibrio infection can result in gastro- intestinal illness, wound infection, or blood poi- soning (bloodstream infection). About a dozen species of Vibrio can cause a human illness. Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus , can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can become seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About one in five people with this infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill. Anyone can get a Vibrio infection. However, some medical conditions and treatments can increase the risk for infection and severe compli- cations, including: • Having liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia. • Receiving immune-suppressing therapy for the treatment of a disease. • Taking medicine that decreases stomach acid levels. • Having had recent stomach surgery. Common gastrointestinal symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vom- iting, fever, and chills. Wound infections may cause fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, dis- coloration, and discharge. In more severe cases, bloodstream infections can lead to fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. Safety precautions include: • Staying out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound (including cuts and scrapes) or cover your wound with a waterproof ban- dage if there’s a possibility it could come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices. • Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices. • If you develop a skin infection, tell your medical provider if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw sea- food, or raw seafood juices. • Use caution when consuming raw or under- cooked seafood, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders. • Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. • Avoid contaminating cooked seafood with raw seafood and their juices. If you are in a group at higher risk for severe infection: • Wear clothes and shoes that can protect you from cuts and scrapes when in brack- ish or salt water. • Wear protective gloves when handling raw seafood. LSUHealth FoundationWelcomes Rob Allen as Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Rob Allen has been appointed vice president and chief advancement officer of the LSU Health Foundation. Allen brings with him more than two decades of leadership in higher education advancement and fundraising. Prior to joining the foundation, Allen served as associate vice president for devel- opment at the University of Virginia. He also held senior advancement roles at Tulane University. In his new role, Allen will lead the foundation’s advancement strategy, build donor relation- ships, and strengthen collaboration across the LSU Health community to accelerate support for health education, research innovation, and patient care. BRGExpands Behavioral Health, Internal Medicine Services at Mid City Baton Rouge General (BRG) is again expanding services at its Mid City campus. Mid City Medi- cine Clinic will offer behavioral health and internal medicine care with nine experienced providers. Behavioral health services at the clinic are led by Venugopal Vatsavayi, MD and Shirley Griffey, DNP, PMHNP-BC. Internal medicine services at Mid City Medicine Clinic are headed up by Venkat Banda, MD and Ethan Greenblatt, MD, along with Allison Barbin, MD, Jewel Crockett, MD, Chad Kaplan, MD, Sru- jani Karra, MD, and Katherine May, MD. Mid City Medicine Clinic is located at 3401 North Blvd., Suite 100. n Rob Allen