Sections View Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Annotate Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Supplementary Content + Download Section PDF Listen ++ For further information, see CMDT Part 33-22: Infections Caused by Campylobacter Species + Key Features Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Microaerophilic, motile, gram-negative rods Two species infect humans Campylobacter jejuni, an important cause of diarrheal disease Campylobacter fetus subsp fetus, typically causes systemic infection and not diarrhea Dairy cattle and poultry are important reservoirs + Clinical Findings Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Campylobacter gastroenteritis Fever Abdominal pain Diarrhea characterized by loose, watery, or bloody stools Disease is self-limited, but its duration can be shortened with antimicrobial therapy C fetus Causes systemic infections that can be fatal, including primary bacteremia, endocarditis, meningitis, and focal abscesses Infrequently causes gastroenteritis Infected patients are often elderly, debilitated, or immunocompromised Closely related species, collectively termed "Campylobacter-like organisms," cause bacteremia in HIV-infected individuals + Diagnosis Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Blood culture Stool culture + Treatment Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Either azithromycin, 1 g orally as single dose, or ciprofloxacin, 500 mg twice daily orally for 3 days, is effective However, C jejuni isolates may be resistant to fluoroquinolones, particularly in Southeast Asia, and susceptibility testing should be routinely performed C fetus Systemic infections respond to therapy with gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, or ciprofloxacin Ceftriaxone or chloramphenicol should be used to treat CNS infections because of their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier