Clinical Characteristics of Campylobacter Bacteremia in Pediatric Population

Abstract

Campylobacter infection in children is a common bacterial illness that mostly causes gastroenteritis and typically presents with diarrhea that may or may not be bloody, emesis, or abdominal pain. However, pediatric cases of bacteremia are rarely reported. Our objective was to report our tertiary center experience with Campylobacter bacteremia in a pediatric population. This 16-year retrospective study was performed at a tertiary-affiliated pediatric medical center. Data were collected from all patients with Campylobacter bacteremia during the study period. We identified 37 pediatric patients with Campylobacter bacteremia. Most children (n = 30, 81%) had severe underlying medical conditions, including malignancy and primary immunodeficiency. Only 7 (18.9%) children were previously healthy. The median age was 6.8 years, and children with severe underlying medical conditions were older than previously healthy children (9 vs. 1.2 years, P = .02). Most children present with fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. Campylobacter jejuni was the most common species (n = 30, 81%), and most isolates tested for antibiotic susceptibility were susceptible to macrolides. While one child was hospitalized in the intensive care unit because of septic shock, the outcome for all children was favorable. Campylobacter bacteremia is an uncommon complication of Campylobacter infection in children and has been reported more frequently among immunocompromised patients. Most children present with fever or gastrointestinal symptoms. Even in this predominantly immunocompromised population, the outcome is generally favorable, with most cases resolving without complications. Macrolides remain the antibiotic of choice for Campylobacter infections, including bacteremia.