Summary
- Campylobacter infection is one of the leading causes of acute diarrhoea worldwide and is the most commonly reported bacterial cause of acute gastroenteritis in developed countries. It is also a major cause of traveller's diarrhoea.
- Campylobacter jejuni is the primary cause of acute enteritis, causing 80% to 90% of all cases of recognised illness due to Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter coli is the second most common cause of acute enteritis. Campylobacter fetus is a rare cause of extra-intestinal infection, mainly in immunocompromised people.
- Campylobacters are carried by a wide variety of wild and domestic animals, most commonly birds. Most C jejuni infections come from infected poultry.
- Diarrhoea is usually self-limited and resolves in 5 to 7 days. Campylobacter bacteraemia is very rare.
- Fluid and electrolyte replacement is essential. Only a small proportion of patients benefit from antimicrobial therapy.
- C jejuni infection is a commonly identified antecedent to Guillain-Barre syndrome. C fetus is associated with endovascular problems (e.g., mycotic aneurysm, septic thrombophlebitis).
Other related conditions
- Salmonellosis
- Shigella infection
- Yersinia infection
- Traveller's diarrhoea
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn's disease
- Assessment of acute diarrhoea
- Assessment of abdominal pain in children
- Assessment of chronic abdominal pain
- Assessment of fever of unknown origin
- Assessment of fever of unknown origin in children
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Viral gastroenteritis in children
- Acute appendicitis
- HIV infection
- Clostridium difficile-associated disease
- Myocarditis
- Pericarditis
- Overview of meningitis
- Bacterial meningitis
- Cholecystitis
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute cystitis
- Cellulitis
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Acute interstitial nephritis
- Reactive arthritis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
Last updated: Apr 30, 2012
