Campylobacter Spp. Culture

IntroLab in Belgrade offers stool tests to detect Campylobacter Spp. cultures. Campylobacter is a Gram-negative bacterium that is very small, highly motile, and comma-shaped. Two species, C. fetus and C. jejuni, are particularly important for human disease. These bacteria attach to the intestinal wall, cause damage, and produce toxins that lead to illness.

How is this bacterium transmitted?

Campylobacter infection in humans is commonly transmitted by domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cows, and dogs. The bacterium is excreted in the feces and urine of infected animals, contaminating the environment. Transmission can occur through the fecal-oral route or via contaminated food.

Contaminated hands are a significant factor in the spread of infection, making hand hygiene a crucial preventive measure.

Clinical significance of Campylobacter Spp. culture

Stool analysis for Campylobacter Spp. is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring campylobacteriosis, an acute infectious disease with toxic-infectious and enterocolitic symptoms.

Forms of Campylobacteriosis:

• Gastrointestinal Form: This form has a sudden onset with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and general weakness. These are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting, and frequent watery diarrhea. The stools are usually watery, foul-smelling, and may contain blood, mucus, or pus. The number of stools can range from 10 to 20 per day. This form typically lasts 3 to 5 days.
• Septic Form: More common in young children and less frequent in adults, this form is marked by high fever and rapid deterioration of the patient’s condition. It can also involve organ-specific symptoms, such as meningitis (inflammation of the brain membranes) and peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining).
• Subclinical Form: Characterized by the absence of clinical symptoms, but Campylobacter Spp. can still be detected through stool analysis.
• Prolonged Form: This form features fluctuating fever, weight loss, reduced work capacity, and intermittent episodes of watery diarrhea alternating with constipation. Additional symptoms can include conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and vulvovaginitis. The prolonged nature of this form can lead to frequent sterility.

How is the presence of Campylobacter Spp. bacteria determined?

The presence of Campylobacter Spp. bacteria is identified through a microbiological examination of stool samples. The diagnostic process starts with collecting epidemiological and clinical data that indicate a possible campylobacteriosis infection. Based on this information, the doctor may suspect a Campylobacter infection. To confirm the diagnosis, the bacteria are isolated from samples such as blood, pus, cerebrospinal fluid, bile, or other secretions. This isolation is conducted in laboratory conditions using specific culture and identification methods.

Serological methods are also employed in the diagnosis of campylobacteriosis. These methods include tests like the complement fixation reaction (CFR), passive hemagglutination, and other serological techniques. They are used to diagnose the infection retroactively by detecting the presence of specific antibodies in the patient’s blood.

Treatment

In most cases, proper hydration and electrolyte replacement, along with a suitable diet, are sufficient to treat campylobacteriosis. This means consuming adequate fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and following an appropriate dietary regimen.

In some instances, when antibiotic therapy is needed, specific antibiotics may be used. Macrolides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, or chloramphenicol are some of the options that can be used to treat campylobacteriosis. The choice of antibiotic depends on the particular strain of Campylobacter Spp. present and is determined by the doctor.