Campylobacter Bacteremia in a Patient with Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter species are spiral, rod-shaped, or curved gram-negative bacteria. Unlike Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter jejuni does not have much association with bacteremia. This case report identifies a patient with gastric cancer who had developed Campylobacter jejuni bacteremia.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 65-year-old woman with gastric cancer who had undergone chemotherapy for the first time and was admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad with complaints of diarrhea and fever. After initial examinations and with the possibility of Salmonella bacteremia for the patient, aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures, a stool exam for smear and culture and also Clostridium difficile toxin assasy  were requested. After six days of hospitalization, despite treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics while her fever persisted, the patient's blood culture was positive for Campylobacter jejuni and  finally, she was treated with appropriate antibiotics.

Conclusion: In immune-compromised patients with diarrhea and fever who do not respond to the initial antibiotic regimen, Campylobacter bacteremia should be considered in addition to the usual pathogens. So, aerobic and especially anaerobic blood cultures should be considered in addition to initial studies.