Campylobacter jejuni
123
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
- Gram negative corkscrew-shaped rod
- 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
- Fecal-oral (contaminated food/water)
- 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
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Major cause of bloody diarrhea, especially in children
- Diagnosis
- Stool culture
- gold standard for diagnosis
- Stool culture
- Treatment
- Supportive care (intravenous hydration and electrolyte repletion) for all patients
- Macrolides (erythromycin/azithromycin) for severe infections