- Gram-negative bacillus that is a common cause of foodborne illness, especially associated with undercooked poultry
Background
Microbiology
- Genus of oxidase positive, catalase positive, curved, Gram-negative bacilli
- Includes Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli
Growth Temp (ºC) | Nitrate | H2S | Hippurate Hydrolysis | Susceptibility | C-19 FA Reduction | Species | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | 37 | 42 | TSI | Lead Acetate Paper | Cephalothin | Nalidixic Acid | ||||
– | + | + | + | – | + | + | R | S | + | Campylobacter jejuni |
– | + | + | + | v | + | – | R | S | + | Campylobacter coli |
– | + | + | + | – | + | – | R | R | + | Campylobacter lari |
+ | + | v | + | – | v | – | S | R | – | Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus |
v | + | v | + | + | + | – | S | R | + | Campylobacter hyointestinalis |
– | + | – | + | – | + | – | S | S | – | Campylobacter cinaedi |
– | + | + | + | – | + | – | S | S | – | Campylobacter upsaliensis |
– | + | – | – | – | + | – | S | S | – | Helicobacter fennelliae |
Clinical Manifestations
- Enteric disease, with acute blood gastroenteritis, is most common with Campylobacter jejeni
- Extraintestinal disease, with bacteremia and endovascular infection, is most common with Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus
Campylobacter jejuni | Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus | |
---|---|---|
Reservoir | birds, food animal | cattle and sheep |
Epidemiology | healthy hosts of all ages, often cluster | debilitated hosts, rarely clusters |
Culture From | feces | bloodstream |
Clinical Manifestations | acute gastroenteritis, colitis | bacteremia, meningitis, endovascular infection, abscess, gastroenteritis |
Diarrhea | common | uncommon |
Prognosis | self-limited | can be fatal |
Complications
Management
Enteric Disease
- Supportive care
- Illness lasts on average 1.3 days
- No antibiotics needed if stable; treatment suggested if high fever, bloody diarrhea, more than 8 stools per daily, prolonged illness ≥7 days
- If requiring antibiotics, use ciprofloxacin or azithomycin for 5 days, or clarithromycin for 7 days
Extraintestinal Disease
- Bacteremia with Campylobacter fetus should be treated with antibiotics, usually for at least 2 weeks
- Options include ampicillin, imipenem, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, fluoroquinolones if not resistant
- Endovascular infections often treated for 4 or more weeks
- Meningitis treated for 2 to 3 weeks