Campylobacter jejuni

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Bacteria - Gram Negative

Campylobacter jejuni

Characteristics
- Gram negative corkscrew-shaped rod
  - First test in algorithm, narrows scope of bacteria
  - Possesses filaments with a corkscrew-appearance
- Oxidase +
  - All gram negative curved rods are oxidase positive
- Grows at 42ºC
  - Specific to Campylobacter jejuni
Transmission
- Fecal-oral (contaminated food/water)
  - ingestion of undercooked poultry or meat, unpasteurized milk
- Contact with infected animals (cows, dogs, sheep, chickens) is also a risk factor
Presentation
- Major cause of bloody diarrhea, especially in children
  - Most common cause of bacterial diarrhea in the US
  - Initially begins as watery diarrhea, and then progresses to bloody diarrhea
  - Invasion of GI mucosa by bacteria leads to inflammation and bleeding
  - May also present with abdominal cramps
- Often complicated by
  - Guillain-Barre syndrome
    - Acute polyneuropathy with ascending muscle weakness
    - Loss of deep tendon reflexes
    - Paralysis of respiratory muscles may be fatal
  - Reactive arthritis
    - Unilateral arthritis of the large joints (e.g. knee).
    - Associated with conjunctivitis and urethritis
Diagnosis
- Stool culture
  - gold standard for diagnosis
Treatment
- Supportive care (intravenous hydration and electrolyte repletion) for all patients
- Macrolides (erythromycin/azithromycin) for severe infections