The Campylobacter infection is a common cause of diarrhea worldwide, in fact, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning . It affects several million people each year, predominantly in babies under one year of age, adolescents, young adults and, in general, in those who live in poor sanitary conditions, since malnutrition is an important factor in the frequency and severity of this infection.

Campylobacter is a bacterial genus that can cause various types of infections. The most frequent are fetal infections in some animals, such as cows or sheep, and intestinal infections that cause diarrhea in men. There are many species of Campylobacter, but most of them will not affect humans. Among those that do cause diseases in man, Campylobacter jejuni , Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus stand out . Until the early 1970s, no other pathology was known than that affecting animals, but later it was found that Campylobacter, especially the species Campylobacter jejuniIt was one of the most frequent causes of diarrhea in humans worldwide.

Bacteria of the Campylobacter genus are found in the intestines of many animals – which will be eliminated through feces – destined for consumption as poultry, pigs, cows or sheep and in companion animals such as cats and dogs. Most human infections are acquired through eating contaminated food or water . There may also be human-to-human transmission (person-to-person transmission) when someone comes in contact with fecal debris from an infected person.

Bacteria of the genus Campylobacter are curved gram-negative bacilli, although they can also be in the form of cocci or cocobacilli (coconuts have a rounded shape, while cocobacilli are somewhat more elongated, considering an intermediate state between cocci and bacilli). They are microaerophiles, that is, they require very low oxygen levels to survive, and they do not have the capacity to ferment glucose. They are seldom mobile.

Campylobacter symptoms

The symptoms of Campylobacter infection begin between two to five days after having been in contact with the bacteria. The diseases produced by this bacillus can be grouped into two types: enteric (that is, those that affect the intestine ) and extraintestinal.

Enteric diseases:

Mainly produced by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli . They are more frequent than extra-intestinal ones. Most Campylobacter enteritis will resolve spontaneously in 3-10 days, however, it is important to maintain an expectant attitude to ensure that the evolution is favorable. The typical symptoms are:

• Diarrhea : is the main symptom of Campylobacter infection, and may be more or less severe diarrhea. This bacteria causes an inflammation of the intestine, thus producing diarrhea with presence in the stool of mucus, blood or pus.

  The main complication of diarrhea is dehydration (signs of dehydration are the presence of dry skin and mucosa, drowsiness, decreased urination …). Intestinal inflammation can occasionally be accompanied by serious complications such as toxic megacolon , which consists of a dilation of the colon of at least 6-7 centimeters, without there being an obstruction ofthe colon , associated with signs of systemic toxicity.

  TheCampylobacter diarrhea with bacteremia (passage of bacteria into the bloodstream) is very rare in immunocompetent people, that is, those in whom the immune system works properly. In addition, if it happens, it is usually a transitory phenomenon that has a good prognosis. When it occurs in patients in whom the immune system does not function properly ( HIV , malnourished …) it is severe and has a high mortality, since extra-intestinal symptoms also appear. The species that most frequently cause invasion of the bloodstream are Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter jejuni .

• Fever (body temperature greater than 38ºC).
• Abdominal pain : It is usually colic and lasts approximately 2-3 days, although sometimes it can last up to a week or even longer.
• Nausea and vomiting
• General discomfort .
• Headache .

Extraintestinal diseases:

Mainly produced by Campylobacter fetus , although Campylobacter jejuni can also cause them. They are less frequent than enteric ones. Symptoms such as the following may appear:

• In those produced by Campylobacter fetus :

• Heart and blood vessel involvement: thrombophlebitis, endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart), pericartidis (inflammation of the pericardium).
• Guillain Barré syndrome (neurological disorder that appears exceptionally).
• Abortions .
• Others: arthritis , peritonitis , urinary infections …

• In those produced by Campylobacter jejuni :

• Arthritis (inflammation of the joints).
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).