Abstract
In this paper, we report 21 cases of Campylobacter fetus bloodstream infection observed in our institution over a 9-year period. The median age of the patients was 78 years. Most of them (62%) had a significant underlying disease, such as diabetes, immunodeficiency or cardiovascular disease. The main clinical features were fever with (62% of cases) or without (38%) extra-intestinal symptoms. These included mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (24%) and cellulitis (19%). Antibiotic treatment was mainly based on amoxicilline-clavulanate (57%) or imipenem (21%), for a median duration of 28 days. A favourable outcome was observed in 72% of cases. Death directly attributable to infection was observed for three patients, due to the rupture of an infected aneurysm or relapsing bloodstream infection with septic shock. All patients initially treated with imipenem had a favourable outcome. This report adds evidence that C. fetus bloodstream infection should be suspected in elderly patients with fever, immunodeficiency and cardiovascular damages. Imipenem seems to be the most active drug, especially in severe cases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ichiyama S, Hirai S, Minami T, Nishiyama Y, Shimizu S, Shimokata K, Ohta M (1998) Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus cellulitis associated with bacteremia in debilitated hosts. Clin Infect Dis 27:252–255
Francioli P, Herzstein J, Grob JP, Vallotton JJ, Mombelli G, Glauser MP (1985) Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus bacteremia. Arch Intern Med 145:289–292
Morrison VA, Lloyd BK, Chia JKS, Tuazon CU (1990) Cardiovascular and bacteremic manifestations of Campylobacter fetus infection: case report and review. Rev Infect Dis 12:387–392
Uwe S, Chmel H, Kaminski Z, Sen P (1980) The clinical spectrum of Campylobacter fetus infections: report of five cases and review of the literature. Q J Med 196:431–442
Kanj SS, Araj GK, Taher A, Reller LB (2001) Campylobacter fetus pericarditis in a patient with beta-thalassemia: case report and review of the literature. Clin Microb Infect 7:510–513
Lozano P, Rimbau EM, Martínez S, Ribas MA, Gómez FT (1999) Campylobacter fetus infection of a previously excluded popliteal aneurysm. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 18:86–88
Peetermans WE, De Man F, Moerman P, van de Werf F (2000) Fatal prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Campylobacter fetus. Inf Soc 41:180–182
Rutherford EJ, Eakins JW, Maxwell JG, Tackett AD (1989) Abdominal aortic aneurysm infected with Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus. J Vasc Surg 10:193–197
Bosshard PP, Kronenberg A, Zbinden R, Ruef C, Böttger EC, Altwegg M (2003) Etiologic diagnosis of infective endocarditis by broad-range polymerase chain reaction: a 3-year experience. Clin Infect Dis 37:167–172
Comité de l’Antibiogramme de la Société Française de Microbiologie (2003) Report 2003. Int J Antimicrob Agents 21:364–391
Tremblay C, Gaudreau C, Lorange M (2003) Epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibilities of 111 Campylobacter fetus subsp.fetus strains isolated in Québec, Canada, from 1983 to 2000. J Clin Microbiol 41:463–466
Pigraud C, Bartolome R, Almirante B, Planes A, Gavalda J, Pahissa A (1997) Bacteremia due to Campylobacter species: clinical findings and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Clin Infect Dis 25:1414–1420
Spelman DW, Davidson N, Buckmaster ND, Spicer WJ, Ryan P (1986) Campylobacter bacteraemia: a report of 10 cases. Med J Austr 145:503–505
Hervé J, Aissa N, Legrand P, Sorkine M, Calmette MJ, Santín A, Roupie E, Renaud B (2004) Campylobacter fetus meningitis in a diabetic adult cured by imipenem. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 23:722–724
Anolik JR, Mildvan D, Winter JW, Puttlitz D, Rubenstein S, Lozman H (1983) Mycotic aortic aneurysm. A complication of Campylobacter fetus septicemia. Arch Intern Med 143:609–610
Farrugia DC, Eykyn SJ, Smyth EG (1994) Campylobacter fetus endocarditis: two case reports and review. Clin Infect Dis 18:443–446
Miki K, Maekura R, Hiraga T, Hirotani A, Hashimoto H, Kitada S, Miki M, Yoshimura K, Naka N, Motone M, Fujikawa T, Takashima S, Kitazume R, Kanzaki H, Nakatani S, Watanuki H, Tagusari O, Kobayashi J, Ito M (2005) Infective tricuspid valve endocarditis with pulmonary emboli caused by Campylobacter fetus after tooth extraction. Intern Med 44:1055–1059
Righter J, Woods JM (1985) Campylobacter and endovascular lesions. Can J Surg 28:451–452
Teh HS, Chiang SH, Tan AGS, Sng LH, Oh HML (2004) A case of right loin pain: septic ovarian vein thrombosis due to Campylobacter fetus bacteraemia. Ann Acad Med Singapore 33:385–388
Montero A, Corbella X, López JA, Santín M, Ballón IH (1997) Campylobacter fetus-associated aneurysms: report of a case involving the popliteal artery and review of the literature. Clin Infect Dis 24:1019–1021
Briedis DJ, Khamessan A, McLaughlin RW, Vali H, Panaritou M, Chan ECS (2002) Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus from a patient with cellulitis. J Clin Microbiol 40:4792–4796
Tremblay C, Gaudreau C (1998) Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 59 strains of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 42:1847–1849
Blaser MJ, Allos BM (2005) Campylobacter jejuni and related species. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (eds) Principles and practice of infectious diseases, 6th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pp 2548–2556
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gazaigne, L., Legrand, P., Renaud, B. et al. Campylobacter fetus bloodstream infection: risk factors and clinical features. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 27, 185–189 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0415-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0415-0