| disease | Campylobacter Enteritis |
| alias | Campylobacter |
Campylobacter jejuni (campylobacter) was isolated from the feces of diarrhea patients by Butzler et al. in 1973 and is now recognized as one of the major pathogens causing human diarrhea. The incidence of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis exceeds that of bacterial dysentery in developed countries and is nearly equal to bacterial dysentery in developing countries.
bubble_chart Epidemiology
The disease occurs worldwide and has shown an increasing trend year by year. In developing countries such as South Africa and Bangladesh, the detection rate of Campylobacter jejuni in children with diarrhea is as high as 40%, presenting as sporadic or epidemic cases. There have been reports of large outbreaks of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis caused by contaminated food, dairy products, and water sources, each affecting hundreds or even thousands of people. Sporadic cases are more common among children. The healthy carrier rate is approximately 1.2–3%, varying by region. Campylobacter jejuni is often isolated from the feces of livestock, poultry, and birds, serving as a source of pestilence.
Campylobacter jejuni can cause diarrhea in humans and animals. Species related to humans include Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter fetus, and Campylobacter small intestine, with Campylobacter jejuni being the most pathogenic. Campylobacter jejuni has slender, curved, spiral, or comma-shaped cells, is Gram-negative, and thrives in microaerobic environments at 42°C.
After entering the intestine, the bacteria rapidly multiply in a microaerobic environment, primarily invading the jejunum, ileum, and colon, attacking the intestinal mucosa, causing congestion and hemorrhagic injury. In recent years, it has been observed that some strains can produce a toxin similar to cholera enterotoxin, leading to increased fluid secretion in the intestinal lumen.
The onset is acute, with fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Mild cases present with watery stools, while severe cases may have stools with mucus, blood, or pus, as in bacterial dysentery, or even bloody stools. Bowel movements occur 6–10 times a day, with small volumes, but severe cases can reach up to 20 times. Foreign reports indicate that bloody stools occur in 60–90% of pediatric Campylobacter jejuni enteritis cases, while domestic reports suggest 3–10%, possibly due to different pathogenic strains. Complications during the course may include mesenteric lymphadenitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, or sepsis.
A rapid diagnosis can be made by observing rapidly moving curved bacteria under a dark-field microscope or related microscope from fresh stool samples. Confirmation relies on stool culture.
bubble_chart Treatment Measures
Most patients recover on their own but continue to shed bacteria for several months, with the longest shedding period lasting up to one year. Antibiotic treatment can quickly control diarrhea and stop bacterial shedding. Options include amikacin, gentamicin, and amoxicillin. Symptomatic treatment is also important, and dehydration should be corrected if present.
