What is Campylobacter (Campylobacter) stool bacteria?

From the Guidelines

Campylobacter, not campodium, is a type of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness in humans, and it is recommended to treat severe cases with azithromycin due to increasing fluoroquinolone resistance 1. There is no evidence of a bacteria called "campodium" in the provided studies, but rather Campylobacter, which is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness.

• Campylobacter commonly contaminates food and water, particularly undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, and contaminated water sources.
• When someone becomes infected with Campylobacter, they typically develop symptoms like diarrhea (which may be bloody), abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting within 2-5 days after exposure.
• The infection, called campylobacteriosis, usually resolves on its own within a week, though severe cases may require antibiotic treatment with drugs like azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, with azithromycin being the preferred choice due to its efficacy and safety profile 1.
• Campylobacter can be detected in stool samples through laboratory testing, which is important for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
• To prevent infection, thoroughly cook poultry, avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen, drink only pasteurized milk and treated water, and practice good hand hygiene, especially after handling raw meat or contact with animals.
• It is essential to note that the treatment of Campylobacter infections should be guided by the severity of symptoms and the presence of antibiotic resistance, with azithromycin being a suitable option for severe cases 1.

From the Research

Campylobacter Stool Bacteria

• Campylobacter is a common cause of gastroenteritis, with symptoms including fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, myalgia, and headache 2.
• The most common species of Campylobacter associated with human illness is Campylobacter jejuni, but other Campylobacter species can also cause human infections 3.
• Campylobacter infection can cause a range of diseases, including acute enteritis, extraintestinal infections, and postinfectious complications 3.
• The clinical course of enteritis is generally self-limiting, but some infected individuals may develop severe post-infectious sequelae, including autoimmune disorders affecting the nervous system, joints, and intestinal tract 4.

Transmission and Prevention

• Poultry meat products are a major source of human Campylobacter infections 4.
• A "One World-One Health" approach is required to reduce the burden of campylobacteriosis, including collective efforts from public health authorities, veterinarians, clinicians, researchers, and politicians 4.
• Innovative intervention regimes for the prevention of Campylobacter contaminations along the food chain include improvements in information distribution to strengthen hygiene measures for agricultural remediation 4.

Pathomechanism and Diarrheal Mechanisms

• Campylobacter enteritis is the most common cause of foodborne bacterial diarrhea in humans 5.
• The mechanism of Campylobacter infection is not completely understood, but it involves the invasion of the intestinal mucosa and the impairment of the epithelial barrier 5.
• The disturbed intestinal epithelium leads to a loss of water and solutes, resulting in diarrhea, and facilitates the uptake of harmful antigens 5.

Common Bacterial Causes of Infectious Diarrhea

• Campylobacter species are one of the most common causes of acute bacterial enteritis in the United States, along with Salmonella and Shigella species 6.
• These pathogens should be considered seriously in children who progress rapidly from secretory to inflammatory diarrhea syndrome or in whom diarrhea persists beyond 5 to 6 days 6.