CULTURE CAMPYLOBACTER

BACTERIA OF THE GENUS CAMPYLOBACTER CAUSE A VARIETY OF INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS OF WHICH ACUTE DIARRHEAL DISEASES ARE THE MOST COMMON. THEY SPECIALLY AFFECT COMPROMISED HOSTS AND THESE INFECTIONS MAY HAVE LATE NON-SUPPURATIVE SEQUELAE. THE PRINCIPAL DIARRHEAL PATHOGEN IS CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 80-90% OF ALL CASES & MAINLY AFFECTS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. CAMPYLOBACTER FETUS AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS AT EXTREMES OF AGES AND IS THE MAIN CAUSATIVE AGENT OF EXTRA-INTESTINAL ILLNESSES. SYSTEMIC INFECTIONS ARE MOST COMMON IN PERSONS OF HIGH RISK LIKE THOSE WITH AIDS, HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA, NEOPLASIA, LIVER DISEASE, DIABETES MELLITUS, GENERALIZED ATHEROSCLEROSIS, NEONATES & PREGNANT WOMEN. CAMPYLOBACTER INFECTIONS EVEN IF ASYMPTOMATIC, ARE ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH STUNTING.