Summary
Stool samples from 775 patients with diarrhoea referred to a hospital over an 18-month period were cultured forCampylobacter fetus ssp.jejuni, and in 55 patients (7.1%), infections were identified. In addition, one asymptomatic patient had a positive stool sample and serological evidence of a current infection. The patients were aged between 11 and 76 years, the majority being in the age group 15 to 39 years. The symptoms included diarrhoea (in almost 100%), fever (in 80%) and abdominal tenderness (in 35%). Almost half the patients vomited. The total leucocyte count was usually normal, but half the patients showed increased numbers of juvenile neutrophils. Eosinopenia and high serum C-reactive protein were frequently seen in the acute phase of the illness. Complications included haematemesis, pancreatic affection, carditis, reactive arthritis, urticaria, and transient malabsorption in one patient who had had a previous Billroth II operation. Invasive disease was occasionally suggested by clinical manifestations of extensive mesenteric lymphadenitis, septicaemia and focal bone necrosis.
Zusammenfassung
Über einen Zeitraum von 18 Monaten wurden Stuhlproben von 775 wegen Diarrhöe hospitalisierten Patienten aufCampylobacter fetus ssp.jejuni kulturell untersucht; bei 55 Patienten (7,1%) wurden Infektionen festgestellt. Zusätzlich hatte ein asymptomatischer Patient eine positive Stuhlprobe, serologisch ließ sich eine frische Infektion feststellen. Die Patienten waren 11 bis 76 Jahre alt, in der Mehrzahl in der Altersgruppe zwischen 15 und 39 Jahren. Die Symptome umfaßten Diarrhöe (annähernd 100%), Fieber (80%) und empfindliches Abdomen (35%). Fast die Hälfte der Patienten hatte Erbrechen. In der Regel lag die Gesamtleukozytenzahl im Normbereich, doch war bei der Hälfte der Patienten eine Zunahme der jugendlichen neutrophilen Granulozyten festzustellen. In der akuten Krankheitsphase fand sich häufig eine Eosinopenie und ein hohes C-reaktives Protein. Als Komplikationen traten Hämatemesis, eine Pankreasaffektion, Karditis, reaktive Arthritis, Urtikaria und bei einem Patienten mit nach Billroth II reseziertem Magen eine vorübergehende Malabsorption auf. Durch das Auftreten von ausgedehnter mesenterialer Lymphadenitis, Septikämie und fokalen Knochennekrosen wurde in einigen Fällen ein invasiver Prozeß angenommen.
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Pitkänen, T., Pettersson, T., Pönkä, A. et al. Clinical and serological studies in patients with campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infection: I. Clinical findings. Infection 9, 274–278 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640990
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640990