Clinical characteristics of Campylobacter bacteremia: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

Campylobacter species are the pathogens of the intestinal tract, which infrequently cause bacteremia. To reveal the clinical characteristics of Campylobacter bacteremia, we performed a retrospective, multicenter study. Patients diagnosed with Campylobacter bacteremia in three general hospitals in western Japan between 2011 and 2021 were included in the study. Clinical, microbiological, and prognostic data of the patients were obtained from medical records. We stratified the cases into the gastroenteritis (GE) and fever predominant (FP) types by focusing on the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Thirty-nine patients (24 men and 15 women) were included, with a median age of 57 years and bimodal distribution between those in their 20 s and the elderly. The proportion of GE and FP types were 21 (53.8%) and 18 (46.2%), respectively. Comparing these two groups, there was no significant difference in patient backgrounds in terms of sex, age, and underlying diseases. Campylobacter jejuni was exclusively identified in the GE type (19 cases, 90.5%), although other species such as Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter coli were isolated in the FP type as well. Patients with the FP type underwent intravenous antibiotic therapy more frequently (47.6% vs. 88.9%), and their treatment (median: 5 days vs. 13 days) and hospitalization (median: 7 days vs. 21 days) periods were significantly longer. None of the patients died during the hospitalization. In summary, we found that nearly half of the patients with Campylobacter bacteremia presented with fever as a predominant manifestation without gastroenteritis symptoms.

Figure 1

Incidence of Campylobacter bacteremia by age group and month. Patient age groups were distributed bimodally between the 20s and the elderly (a). An incidence peak was observed in September (b).

Figure 2

Kaplan–Meier curve for hospitalization periods. Comparison of gastroenteritis (GE) type and fever predominant (FP) type. Campylobacter bacteremia showed that hospitalization days were significantly longer in the FP type (P < 0.01).