Campylobacter bacteremia in children

Abstract

Campylobacter spp. is a common cause of gastroenteritis in children. Bacteremia represents < 1% of all infections and occurs in immunocompromised patients and at extreme ages. 

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of children with Campylobacter spp. bacteremia. 

Patients and Method: Observational retrospective study that included patients aged from 0 to 16 years hospitalized between January 2015 and February 2022, due to bacteremia with at least one blood culture with isolation of Campylobacter spp. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, underlying disease, symptoms, ,site of acquisition of the infection, clinical focus of infection, presence of neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, typing and sensitivity of the isolated microorganism, isolation in other sites, initial and definitive treatment, complications, and evolution. Bacterial identification was performed by mass spectrometry and sensitivity was determined by the agar disk diffusion method. 

Results: 30 patients were included, median age 54 months (IQR 23-100 months). 86.6% presented an underlying disease and 70% had compromised immu- nity. The main clinical focus was gastrointestinal (70%). The species identified were C jejuni (n:24, 77.4%), C upsalensis (n:3, 10%), C coli (n:2, 6.6%), and C ureolyticus (n:1, 3.3%). The sensitivity to meropenem was determined in 27 isolates that were 100% susceptible. Susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin was 15% and 91%, respectively. One patient died because of an infection (3%). 

Conclusion: Campylobacter spp. bacteremia is more frequent in immunocompromised patients. C jejuni was the most frequently isolated species. Sensitivity to carbapenems was 100%. Mortality was low in this clinical series.