Campylobacter Bacteria Infection

Campylobacter (usually C. jejuni) is the leading cause of bacterial enteritis (inflammation of the bowel) and diarrhea in the United States, especially among children and young adults. Campylobacter thrives in low oxygen, so Campylobacter multiplies readily in the intestines, attacking the lining and releasing toxins that further damage the intestines and cause bleeding.

Transmission

• Campylobacter sheds in the feces of contaminated animals, especially poultry and dairy cattle. If meat, dairy products or water become contaminated with infected feces, then infection can spread to humans who handle or ingest the food. Some outbreaks have occurred from contaminated raw milk, but most infections are sporadic and not part of an outbreak. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the incubation period from ingestion of bacteria to symptoms is 2-5 days.

Symptoms

• Campylobacter infection usually begins with abdominal cramping, fever and diarrhea. Diarrhea may range from mild with loose stools two to three times daily to severe loose, watery or bloody stools 10 to 15 times daily. Other symptoms include headache and muscle pain. Dehydration can occur from excess fluid loss with severe diarrhea, putting small children at risk.

Complications

• Complications are rare, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (see reference 2) report that long-term complications can include arthritis from joint inflammation and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder in which the body's immune system becomes impaired and begins to attack the nerves, resulting in paralysis.

  Campylobacter can also cause systemic infections, including bacteremia (blood infection), meningitis (infection of the brain lining), cholecystitis (infection of the gallbladder) and endocarditis (infection of the heart lining). However, according to physicians Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis in "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment," these complications usually occur in older adults or those have compromised immune systems, such as with HIV/AIDS.

Treatment

• Most infections clear within about 10 days without treatment; but, according to the FDA, relapses occur in about 25 percent. McPhee and Papadakis note that antibiotics (such as azithromycin or ciprofloxacin) shorten the duration of the infection but can increase resistance, so most physicians do not prescribe antibiotics unless infection is severe.

Prevention

• The CDC provides guidelines for prevention of Campylobacter infection: Cook poultry well-done to 165 degrees, wash hands before handling food and after handling meat products, avoid raw milk and untreated water and wash hands with soap when in contact with human or animal feces, including pet feces. Freezing meat reduces but does not eliminate Campylobacter.