Campylobacter: common cause of enteritis in an infectious diseases hospital

Eleven patients were referred to the infectious diseases wards of the Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, between August and December, 1979, with acute infectious diarrhoea acquired within Australia. Nine of the 11 had infection with Campylobacter species as the sole pathogens. In contrast, a variety of pathogens was isolated from the stools of 13 patients referred to the hospital with enteritis acquired during overseas travel, including three Shigella species, but only one Campylobacter species. The patients with campylobacter enteritis suffered fever, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea, often with some blood. Complications of campylobacter enteritis included colitis, severe abdominal pain, renal failure, severe muscle cramps, headache with meningism, myalgias and arthralgias. Campylobacter enteritis resolved with cessation of solid food intake, together with intravenous or oral fluid therapy. Some patients were treated with erythromycin, with prompt improvement, though a role for antibiotic therapy has not yet been established.