PubMed · 7258272
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M H Friedlaender, C R Dawson, A R Irvine. 1981. Campylobacter gastroenteritis.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75923-9
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Campylobacter has been the commonest enteric pathogen isolated from humans in England and Wales since 1981, but few cases are linked to outbreaks. Twenty-one general outbreaks of campylobacter infection in England and Wales were reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre from 1992 to 1994. Seven hundred and six people were affected, nine cases were admitted to hospital, and no deaths were reported. The mean attack rate was 46.2% (SD 25.7%) and the mean duration of illness was 11 days (range 3 to 61 days). Outbreaks occurred throughout the year and throughout England and Wales. Infection in 18 outbreaks was reported to have been transmitted by food or water: eight were related to food (particularly poultry), six to contaminated water from a private water supply, and four to raw or inadequately pasteurised milk. General outbreaks of campylobacter infection appear to be unusual and should be investigated thoroughly. The new PHLS Campylobacter Reference Unit will assist in the identification of outbreaks of campylobacter infection and help to identify the risk factors associated.
Yersinia, Campylobacter, and Salmonella are pathological microorganisms which incidentally may specifically infect the ileocecal area (infectious ileocecitis). In such cases pain in the right lower quadrant is the predominant symptom, and diarrhea is absent or only mild. This symptomatology can lead to an unnecessary laparotomy for suspected appendicitis. At surgery a normal appendix is removed, while there is edematous thickening of ileum and cecum, and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. These ileocecal abnormalities give rise to a fairly characteristic US image, enabling the radiologist to rapidly differentiate infectious ileocecitis from appendicitis, thus preventing an unnecessary laparotomy. Infectious ileocecitis caused by Yersinia, Campylobacter, and Salmonella is a common mimicker of appendicitis, and its incidence at this moment is grossly underestimated. Ultrasound is presently the only means to prevent an unnecessary operation for this condition which is principally self-limiting and innocuous.
The enteric pathogens Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are a major cause of infectious diarrhoea. Their ability to adhere to human epithelial cells is ubiquitous and their propensity to invade cells is also well documented and requires motility and de novo protein synthesis, as well as several host factors. The molecular basis of the interaction between campylobacters and host cells is only beginning to be elucidate. The characteristics of this interaction promise to be interesting and may provide new insights into host-pathogen interactions in other enteric diseases.