Campylobacter

Campylobacter

Updated: 02/03/2024

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

 

General features

  • Most common cause of bacterial diarrhea in the US
  • Two significant species: C jununi, C coli
  • G-negative curved rods with polar flagella (“gulls’ wings”)
  • Oxidase-positive, Catalase positive
  • Sensitive to gastric acid, posting a higher risk in patients with reduced gastric acid production, such as autoimmune gastritis
  • Invasion of mucosa facilitated by flagella, high molecular weight plasmids, superficial adhesins, and chemotactic factors
  • Fecal-oral transmission, commonly associated with poultry
  • Invade intestinal mucosa

Key clinical features

  • Abrupt onset of abdominal pain and inflammatory diarrhea
  • Commonly self-limited, lasting 3-5 days
  • Rarely severe colitis with toxic megacolon
  • Serotype O:19 may be associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome
    • Cross-reactivity with neural glycosphingolipids
  • Reactive arthritis

Diagnosis

  • Culture: Campylobacter or Skirrow agar at 42.0°C 

Management

  • Fluid replacement
  • Erythromycin

 

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