How to Treat Campylobacter Infections

Campylobacteriosis infection might be caused by a bacterium of the Campylobacter genus. Some infections don't cause symptoms while campylobacteriosis may become septicemic and consequently life-threatening in patients with compromised immune systems. Most patients who become ill get diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. The diarrhea may be bloody with nausea and vomiting. Campylobacteriosis is common, affecting over one million people in the United States.

Instructions

• 1

  Perform an initial evaluation on an outpatient basis. Give the patient plenty of fluid and electrolytes for as long as the diarrhea persists. Rehydration drinks such as Lytren, Pedialyte and Rehydralyte are good choices. Virtually all patients with campylobacteriosis will recover without specific treatment.

• 2

  Return to solid foods when you feel well enough. Begin with mild, low-fat foods such as applesauce, bananas, rice and toast. Wait until 3 days after all symptoms have disappeared before eating spicy foods or drinking alcohol or coffee.

• 3

  Use antibiotics such as erythromycin or a fluoroquinolone in severe cases of enteric infections of campylobacteriosis. A typical dosage is 500 mg orally every 6 hours for 5 days and can shorten the recovery time if it is begun early enough in the illness.

• 4

  Continue antibiotic treatment for 2 to 4 weeks for patients with extraintestinal campylobacteriosis to prevent a relapse.

• 5

  Manage additional complications of campylobacteriosis as needed. Avoid the use of antimotility agents such loperamide, which can prolong the illness and cause intestinal perforation.