Recurrent Campylobacter jejuni bacteremia in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia: A case report

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2017-06, Vol.96 (25), p.e7238-e7238
• Main Authors: Kim, Youie, Shin, Ju Ae, Han, Seung Beom, Cho, Bin, Jeong, Dae Chul, Kang, Jin Han
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Agammaglobulinemia - complications; Agammaglobulinemia - drug therapy; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteremia - complications; Bacteremia - drug therapy; Bacteremia - microbiology; Campylobacter Infections - complications; Campylobacter Infections - drug therapy; Campylobacter Infections - immunology; Campylobacter Infections - microbiology; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Clinical Case Report; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Enteritis - complications; Enteritis - drug therapy; Enteritis - immunology; Enteritis - microbiology; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Male; Recurrence
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007238

Although some cases of recurrent bacteremia due to Campylobacter jejuni have been reported in immunocompromised patients, antibiotic treatment strategies to eradicate C. jejuni and prevent recurrent infections in immunocompromised patients have not been established. Authors' experience of such rare cases should be shared for improving patients' outcomes. An 18-year-old boy with hypogammaglobulinemia, who received intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy every 3 weeks, was admitted to hospital repeatedly due to recurrent diarrhea and cellulitis of the leg. The patient was admitted 6 times, and among them, C. jejuni was isolated from blood cultures 4 times and stool cultures 2 times. The patient experienced recurrent C. jejuni enteritis and bacteremia 5 times despite macrolide therapy. Doxycycline was administered for 3 months after the fifth admission. Ten months after the completion of doxycycline therapy for 3 months, C. jejuni enteritis relapsed; however, since then, recurrent infection has not occurred for 10 months. Immunocompromised patients can experience recurrent C. jejuni infection despite prolonged antibiotic therapy. Further studies to establish appropriate antibiotic therapy for eradicating colonized C. jejuni and preventing recurrent infection are needed.