Properties

Pathogenesis

Clinical findings

Laboratory diagnosis

Treatment & Prevention

Curve, gram-negative rods.

Microaerophilic – grows best in 5% oxygen.

Urease-negative

C.jejuni grows well at 42 degrees but not

C. intestinalis

Epidemiology:

- domestic animals a source of organism.

- fecal-oral transmission.

- infections are the result of infected poultry meat.

Presence of watery diarrhea suggests an enterotoxin-mediated syndrome.

Invasion often occurs, accompanied by blood in stools.

Systemic infections common in neonates or debilitated adults.

Diseases:

- enterocolitis

- bacteremia (rarely)

Incubation period: 1-7 days

Initial ‘flu-like’ prodromal illness.

Begins as a watery, foul-smelling diarrhea followed by bloody stools accompanied by fever and severe abdominal pain.

Systemic infections, most commonly bacteremia are caused by C.intestinalis.

Complications:

- reactive arthritis

- Guillain Barre syndrome

Stool sample is plated out on a selective medium containing a mixture of antibiotics to suppress fecal growth.

The plate is incubated under microaerophilic conditions at 42 degrees.

After 1-2 days gray spreading oxidase-positive colonies are seen; a gram stain shows typical spiral morphology.

Usually a self-limiting illness; most patients only require supportive therapy (rehydration)

C.jejuni infections:

- erythromycin

- ciprofloxacin

Prevention:

- teach safe food & cooking practices.

- safe water supplies.

- pasteurize milk.