Fastidiosos

Campylobacter jejuni

Curved Gram-negative bacilli, seagull-wing shaped

Identification & Growth

Identification

Oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, hippurate-positive (C. jejuni)
Corkscrew-like motility on wet-mount microscopy

Growth Conditions

Skirrow/Campy agar, microaerophilic atmosphere (5% O₂, 10% CO₂), 42 °C, 48–72 h

Clinical Significance

Acute inflammatory diarrhea in outpatients; associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Intrinsic Resistance

Trimethoprim, sulfonamides, cephalosporins, aztreonam, vancomycin

Bench Alerts

Without a microaerophilic atmosphere and 42 °C incubation it will not grow — leads to a false-negative culture
Azithromycin is first-line; fluoroquinolone resistance rates are high

Clinical Notes

Clinical presentations

Causes acute gastroenteritis with frequently bloody diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, and fever.
Is the infectious trigger most frequently associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome via molecular mimicry.
Can cause postinfectious reactive arthritis and, rarely, bacteremia in immunocompromised patients.

Specimens and collection

Stool culture on selective media under microaerophilic conditions with incubation at 42°C is necessary for adequate isolation.
Multiplex molecular enteric pathogen panels offer faster and more sensitive detection than conventional culture.
Specimen should be processed promptly, as the organism is sensitive to desiccation and temperature variation.

Epidemiology and at-risk populations

Is one of the leading causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, associated with consumption of undercooked poultry and unpasteurized milk.
Contact with domestic animals and contaminated water are also recognized transmission routes.
Young children and young adults have the highest incidence of symptomatic disease.

Resistance and therapeutic implications

Fluoroquinolone resistance is widely disseminated globally, limiting its empiric use in severe gastroenteritis.
Azithromycin is often preferred for empiric treatment when indicated, due to lower resistance rates.
Most cases are self-limited and do not require antimicrobial treatment, reserved for severe or prolonged disease.

Bench and reporting notes

Curved gram-negative bacilli ('seagull wing' shape) with characteristic motility on wet mount aid presumptive identification.
Growth on selective media under microaerophilic conditions at 42°C differentiates it from other enteric species.
Confirmed cases are notifiable in several jurisdictions for foodborne disease surveillance.

Sources

Educational decision-support content. It does not replace laboratory validation, current guidelines or review by the responsible professional.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Campylobacter jejuni in the lab?

Campylobacter jejuni is identified through oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, hippurate-positive (c. jejuni), corkscrew-like motility on wet-mount microscopy.

What are the intrinsic resistances of Campylobacter jejuni?

This organism is naturally resistant to trimethoprim, sulfonamides, cephalosporins, aztreonam, vancomycin. These drugs should not be reported as susceptible.

Where is Campylobacter jejuni commonly found?

It is typically associated with acute inflammatory diarrhea in outpatients; associated with guillain-barré syndrome.

Antibiogram InterpreterCheck BrCAST 2026 breakpoints Rugai InterpreterBiochemical identification tools