Campylobacter Enteritis in a College Health Setting

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Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcome of Campylobacter jejuni infections. A chart review was conducted on all cases (50) seen during 1980 and 1981. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated in 6.9% of all cases of diarrhea. The most frequently reported symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and hematochezia. Eighty-eight percent of patients had six or more bowel movements per day. Forty-two percent of patients required hospitalization. The illness was present a mean of 5.2 days prior to the time a culture was obtained. An additional 2.8 days elapsed before therapy was begun. Ninety-six percent of the patients were treated with erythromycin for at least seven days. No relapses were noted during a mean follow-up of 10.4 months. Campylobacter jejuni is the most frequent cause of bacterial diarrhea at Northwestern. The clinical symptoms are very similar to those of nontyphoidal Salmonellosis. Erythormycin therapy seems to provide cure and prevent relapse.