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Campylobacter infection

Last reviewed: 7 Apr 2025
Last updated: 24 Apr 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • prodrome of headache, myalgias, chills, fever
  • vomiting
Full details

Risk factors

  • recent foreign travel
  • eating raw or undercooked meat (especially chicken)
  • exposure to poultry, cattle, sheep, or other farm animals
  • HIV infection
  • male sex
  • drinking untreated water
  • drinking unpasteurized milk
  • close contact with infected person
  • use of proton pump inhibitors or H2 antagonists
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • stool microscopy
  • stool culture
  • white blood cell count
Full details

Tests to consider

  • serum Campylobacter serology
  • blood culture
  • intestinal biopsy
  • fecal microscopy
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

gastroenteritis

Contributors

Authors

Eli D. Ehrenpreis, MD, FACG, AGAF

Associate Director for Research

Internal Medicine Residency

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Park Ridge

IL

Disclosures

EDE is the CEO of E2Bio Life Sciences and E2Bio Consultants. EDE is the owner of patents related to the management of oral mucosal diseases, prevention of oral cancer, and treatment of anal pruritus.

Acknowledgements

Dr Eli D. Ehrenpreis would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Gregory Juckett, Dr Kristin Furfari, and Professor Sarah O'Brien, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

GJ and KF declare that they have no competing interests. SOB is the author of some references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers

Justin T. Kupec, MD

Assistant Professor

Section of Digestive Diseases

Department of Medicine

West Virginia University

Morgantown

WV

Disclosures

JTK declares that he has no competing interests.

Stephen Morris-Jones, MBBS, MRCPath

Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences

London

UK

Disclosures

SMJ declares that he has no competing interests.

Michael Bennish, MD

Senior Associate

Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

MB declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

World Health Organization. Campylobacter fact sheet. 1 May 2020 [internet publication].Full text

Shane AL, Mody RK, Crump JA, et al. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 29;65(12):e45-80.Full text  Abstract

Government of British Columbia. Laboratory. Nov 2023 [internet publication].Full text

Riddle MS, DuPont HL, Connor BA. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of acute diarrheal infections in adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 May;111(5):602-22.Full text  Abstract

World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). WGO practice guideline: acute diarrhea. 2012 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Campylobacter infection images
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  • Guidelines

    • Laboratory guidelines
    • Infectious diarrhea - guideline for investigation
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  • Patient information

    Diarrhea in adults

    Diarrhea in children

    More Patient information
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