must still be confirmed by stool culture . Blood cultures are often not performed and in most cases , one does not detect sepsis in this infection .
Campylobacter infections often do not need antibiotic treatment . Individuals experiencing an infection should drink extra fluids as long as diarrhea lasts . Some people with , or at risk for , severe illness might need antibiotic treatment including anyone 65 years or older , pregnant women , and the immunocompromised ( e . g . AIDS or cancer patients receiving chemotherapy ). Due to growing antibiotic resistance , some types of antibiotics may not work for some types of Campylobacter . When antibiotics are necessary , healthcare providers should use standard medical laboratory testing ( antibiotic susceptibility testing ) to help determine which type of antibiotics will likely be effective . If prescribed antibiotic ( s ), one should always take them exactly as directed by their physician . Campylobacter infections with decreased susceptibility are more common in low- and middle-income countries , putting travelers at risk for infections that may be harder to treat .
What are the symptoms of an infection ? Campylobacter infections usually cause people to have diarrhea ( often bloody ), fever , and stomach cramps . Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea . These symptoms usually start two to five days after the person ingests Campylobacter and last about one week .
Typically , poultry , raw milk , and untreated water have been the most commonly identified sources .
Sometimes these infections cause complications , such as irritable bowel syndrome , temporary paralysis , and arthritis . Those individuals with weakened immune systems ( e . g . blood disorder , AIDS , or chemotherapy patients ), Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a life-threatening infection .
Rodney E . Rohde , PhD , MS , SM ( ASCP ) CM SVCM , MBCM , FACSc , serves as chair and professor of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State ; associate director for the Translational Health Research Initiative ; as well as associate dean for research in the College of Health Professions . Follow him on Twitter @ RodneyRohde / @ TXST _ CLS , or on his website : http :// rodneyerohde . wp . txstate . edu /
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