Clinical features of bacteremia due to Campylobacter jejuni

Objective The clinical features of bacteremia due to Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) have yet to be fully elucidated.

Methods and Results The cases of C. jejuni bacteremia were retrospectively reviewed during a twelve-year period in a single institute. C. jejuni was identified in 7 patients through blood cultures, and disease onset occurred between June and October. Except for 2 previously healthy individuals, 5 patients had underlying diseases (chronic liver diseases, n=3; hematological malignancies, n=2). All patients were febrile, but 2 patients did not present with gastrointestinal symptoms. C. jejuni isolates were susceptible to gentamicin and macrolides, but about half of them were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Disease outcomes were favorable, and no deaths related to C. jejuni bacteremia were observed.

Conclusion These results suggest that C. jejuni bacteremia could occur primarily or secondarily to gastroenteritis with a seasonal peak and that prognosis would be favorable regardless of the underlying diseases.