Complications
Occurs in 9% to 13% of people.[14]
The rate of reactive arthritis is low, ranging from 2% to 5%.[14] The likelihood of developing reactive arthritis is unrelated to the severity of the disease; however, it is more common in people who carry the human leukocyte antigen B27 phenotype. Arthritis typically lasts 1 week to several months, and ultimately resolves on its own.[52]
Campylobacter jejuni infection is the most commonly-identified precipitant of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) causing up to 41% of all GBS cases. Campylobacter infection typically occurs 1 to 3 weeks before the onset of neurological symptoms.[14] GBS occurring after Campylobacter infection has a worse prognosis than other forms of GBS with a slower recovery and greater chance of having residual neurological symptoms.[53]
Bacteraemia is uncommon, usually occurring only in people who are immunocompromised or at the extremes of age. There are 3 patterns of bacteraemia:
1. Transient bacteraemia in an immunocompetent patient with enteritis
2. Sustained bacteraemia or focal infection in an immunocompetent patient
3. Sustained bacteraemia or focal infection in an immunocompromised patient.
Antimicrobial therapy is needed in sustained infections (i.e., >1 week).
Campylobacter fetus is a rare cause of bacteraemia in infants and immunocompromised patients.[17] It is usually a livestock pathogen rather than a human pathogen and can cause abortions in cattle and sheep.
Campylobacter species has rarely been associated with myocarditis and pericarditis. This typically presents as chest pain and ECG changes with antecedent or coincident enteritis.[51]
Other extra-intestinal manifestations include: meningitis, peritonitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, cystitis, cellulitis, hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, thrombophlebitis, and septic abortion.[5]
Campylobacter species can cause perinatal infections and fetal demise. For this reason, Campylobacter infection should also be actively ruled out in pregnant patients with a diarrhoeal illness.
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