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Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases
Campylobacter Infections
Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Predominant symptoms of
Campylobacter infections include diarrhea, abdominal pain, malaise, and fever.
Stools may contain visible or occult blood. In neonates and
young infants, bloody diarrhea without fever may be the only
manifestation of infection. Abdominal pain can mimic that produced
by appendicitis or intussusception. Mild infection lasts 1 or
2 days and resembles viral gastroenteritis. Most patients recover
in less than 1 week, but 20% have a relapse or a prolonged or
severe illness. Severe or persistent infection can mimic acute
inflammatory bowel disease. Bacteremia is uncommon but can occur
in neonates, in people with human immunodeficiency virus infection,
and in healthy and malnourished children. Immunocompromised
hosts may have prolonged, relapsing, or extraintestinal infections,
especially with
Campylobacter fetus and other "atypical" species.
Immuno reactive complications, such as acute idiopathic polyneuritis
(Guillain-Barré syndrome), Miller Fisher syndrome (ophthalmoplegia,
areflexia, ataxia), reactive arthritis, Reiter syndrome (arthritis,
urethritis, and bilateral conjunctivitis), and erythema nodosum,
can occur during convalescence.
ETIOLOGY: Campylobacter species are motile, comma-shaped, gram-negative
bacilli that cause gastroenteritis.
Campylobacter jejuni and
Campylobacter coli are the most common species isolated from
patients with diarrhea.
Campylobacter fetus predominantly causes
systemic illness in neonates and debilitated hosts. Other
Campylobacter species, including
Campylobacter upsaliensis, Campylobacter lari, and
Campylobacter hyointestinalis, may cause similar diarrheal
or systemic illnesses in children.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: The gastrointestinal tract of domestic and wild
birds and animals is the reservoir of infection.
Campylobacter jejuni and
C coli have been isolated from feces of 30% to 100%
of chickens, turkeys, and water fowl. Poultry carcasses
. . . [Go to Full Text]
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