Sketchy Microbiology: Campylobacter Jejuni (and Campylobacter Coli, Campylobacter Fetus)

“Camping Guy and the bears”

Camping — Campylobacter (Jejuni, Coli, Fetus)

Guy and Bears ←→ guy and bears — Guillen Barre

Mustache is comma shaped — Gram Negative Spiral / Curved Rod Bacilli (Enteric)

Hint: Color of Cooler

RED Cooler — Gram Negative

Hint: Fire produces CO2

Camp Fire → Smoke → Increased CO2 — Campylobacter (Jejuni, Coli, Fetus) is Microaerophilic (Less O2, more CO2 Media forgrowth)

Camp Fire — Prefers warm environments. ~42 deg C (So Campylobacter is a thermophile)

Blue Ring — Campylobacter is Oxidase Positive

Hint: Playing / Moving Cubs

The bear cubs are playing / moving — Campylobacter is motile (Bipolar Flagella)

Chicken being cooked — Main reservoir for Campylobacter Jejuni is intestinal tract of POULTRY but also Cattle and Sheep

(So transmission is fecal oral)

What is the Reservoir / Host of :

C. Jejuni

C. Coli

C. Fetus

Red Stools — Campylobacter causes bloody Stools and diarrhea

Bear cub invading the cooler — Can get invasive Bacteremia after C. Jejuni infection

Camper slapping his knee — Reactive arthritis, or Guillain Barre syndrome develops in response to post C. Jejuni infection

Cup tripping on sausage links — Can cause Guillain Barre syndrome (An autoimmune response damaging peripheral nerve myelin sheath → leading to an ascending flaccid paralysis)

What is Campylobacter’s Pathogenesis?

• Bacteria Colonize intestinal Mucosa → attaches to epithelial cells → replicates intracellularly → causes acute PMN response → mucosal edema and ulcerations

• Patient presents with acute enteritis and diarrhea