Campylobacter coli Bacteremia In A Young Girl of Chronic Budd-Chiari Syndrome: First Case Report From India

Introduction: Campylobacter coli are curved, Gram negative, microaerophilic, fastidious bacilli. They are the  leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. These are  zoonotic infections acquired by direct contact with animals or consumption of contaminated food products. The symptoms include diarrhoeal illness and fever. There are very few reports of extra-intestinal infections by Campylobacter coli. However, recent advancements in diagnostic technologies and automation have eased the identification of these pathogens. There are increasing reports of resistance to fluroquinolones, macrolides and third generation cephalosporins. Here, we present the case of bacteremia due to Campylobacter coli which is the first such case report from India.

Case Presentation: A 10 yrs. old female patient was admitted to pediatric gastroenterology ward with complaints of chronic diarrhoea for 5 years and abdominal distention for 2.5 months. The patient had dilated abdominal veins and gastric varices. The patient had fever 3 days prior to admission. Campylobacter coli was isolated from BACTEC blood culture bottle. The patient had associated diarrhea and anemia. The isolate was susceptible to macrolides and third generation cephalosporins but resistant to fluroquinolones. The patient responded well to azithromycin therapy.

Conclusion: Campylobacter coli is a rare cause of bacteremia. The disease burden caused by Campylobacter coli is undefined in Indian subcontinent. This is the first report of C. coli bacteremia from India.