Campylobacter Flashcards
Name of a Campylobacter?
Campylobacter jejuni.
Microscopy characteristics of Campylobacter?
Spiral
Gram-negative
Bacilli
Highly motile (darting movement)
How is Campylobacter spread?
Faecal-oral route.
How is Campylobacter related to Diarrhoea?
It is the leading cause of bacterial Diarrhoea.
What is Campylobacter a cause of?
Gastroenteritis.
Colitis.
What kind of media does one need to grow Campylobacter?
Blood-containing media.
Where does one find Campylobacter in the environment?
Wild or domestic animals (including birds)
How can one acquire Campylobacter?
Contaminated food (undercooked poultry) Direct transmission (puppies and kittens) Faecal-oral route Unpasteurized milk Unchlorinated water
Is campylobacter a cause of travellers Diarrhoea? Why?
Yes. High prevalence in developing countries.
What does Campylobacter jejuni cause?
Acute enterocolitis.
Symptoms of C.jejuni infection?
Diarrhoea - watery to frankly dysenteric
Malaise
Fever
Colic
What would you see if you had to perform a laparotomy on someone infected with C.jejuni?
Ileitis
Mesenteric adenitis
Can Campylobacter cause serious life-threatening illness?
Yes.
In the immunocompromised, elderly and neonates.
What syndrome can be a complication of Campylobacter infection?
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
What is Guillain-Barr Syndrome?
Autoimmune reaction > ab’s to Campylobacter target nervous tissue > ascending paralysis
- respiratory dysfunction?
- molecular mimicry
