Campylobacter.
Species within the genus, Campylobacter, have emerged over the last three decades as significant clinical pathogens, particularly of human public health concern, where the majority of acute bacterial enteritis in the Western world is due to these organisms. Of particular concern are the species, C. jejuni and C. coli, which are responsible for most of these gastrointestinal-related infections. Although these organisms have already emerged as causative agents of zoonoses, several aspects of their epidemiology and pathophysiology are only beginning to emerge. Trends in increasing antibiotic resistance are beginning to emerge with oral antibiotics, which may be the drug of choice for when it is necessary to intervene chemotherapeutically. This review wishes to examine (i) emerging clinical aspects of the disease, such as Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), (ii) the association between these organisms and poultry as a natural host, (iii) environmental aspects of Campylobacter epidemiology, (iv) the emergence of atypical campylobacters (v) emerging trends in antibiotic resistance, (vi) adoption of modern methods for the detection of campylobacters.
Moore
John E
JE
Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast BT9 7AD, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. jemoore@niphl.dnet.co.uk
Corcoran
Deborah
D
Dooley
James S G
JS
Fanning
Séamus
S
Lucey
Brigid
B
Matsuda
Motoo
M
McDowell
David A
DA
Mégraud
Francis
F
Millar
B Cherie
BC
O'Mahony
Rebecca
R
O'Riordan
Lisa
L
O'Rourke
Michele
M
Rao
Juluri R
JR
Rooney
Paul J
PJ
Sails
Andrew
A
Whyte
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D014871:Water Microbiology