Patient-reported complications associated with Campylobacter jejuni infection

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 138; no. 7; pp. 1004 - 1011
• Main Authors: SCHÖNBERG-NORIO, D., MATTILA, L., LAUHIO, A., KATILA, M.-L., KAUKORANTA, S.-S., KOSKELA, M., PAJARRE, S., UKSILA, J., EEROLA, E., SARNA, S., RAUTELIN, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antimicrobial treatment; Antimicrobials; Arthralgia; Arthritis; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Campylobacter; Campylobacter Infections - complications; Campylobacter jejuni; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical bacteriology; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - complications; diarrhoea; Enteritis; Eye Diseases - complications; Eye Diseases - epidemiology; Female; Finland; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenteritis; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Heart Diseases - complications; Heart Diseases - epidemiology; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Joints; Klinisk bakteriologi; Laboratories; Male; Medical records; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Microbiology; Microbiology, immunology, infectious diseases; Middle Aged; Mikrobiologi; Mikrobiologi, immunologi, infektionssjukdomar; Miscellaneous; Musculoskeletal Diseases - complications; Musculoskeletal Diseases - epidemiology; musculoskeletal symptoms; Neuralgia - complications; Neuralgia - epidemiology; Pain; Paresthesia - complications; Paresthesia - epidemiology; Patients; Questionnaires; reactive arthritis; Rheumatic diseases; Self Disclosure; serotypes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Symptoms; Urologic Diseases - complications; Urologic Diseases - epidemiology; Variables; Young Adult; United States > US; Finland; reactive arthritis; Antimicrobial treatment; Finland; serotypes; diarrhoea; musculoskeletal symptoms; Campylobacter jejuni; Infection; Campylobacter infection; Human; Campylobacteraceae; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Complication; Epidemiology
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268809991099
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of complications, especially musculoskeletal symptoms, after sporadic Campylobacter jejuni enteritis of domestic origin in Finland. This multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted during a seasonal peak in 2002. Questionnaires were sent to Campylobacter-positive patients, representing different geographical areas, 2 months after collection of positive stool samples. Medical records were viewed in several cases. Besides antimicrobial susceptibility testing C. jejuni isolates were serotyped. A total of 235 patients (58%) returned the questionnaire and 201 C. jejuni-positive patients were finally included in the study. Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with C. jejuni enteritis were frequent (39%); joint pain was most commonly reported (81%). The incidence of reactive arthritis was 4% and that of Achilles enthesopathy and/or heel pain was 9%. Stomach ache during enteritis was associated with the later development of joint pain. Antimicrobial treatment was common but did not prevent complications.