Campylobacteriosis at the Department of Infectious Diseases of the University Hospital Brno in 2011-2013: a retrospective study

Objective: To provide basic clinical, laboratory, and microbiological characteristics of adult patients with campylobacteriosis admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases University Hospital Brno (UHB), in 2011-2013. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of 160 patients hospitalized with campylobacteriosis at the Department of Infectious Diseases, UHB from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. Results: There was no lethality or bacteremia reported in the study group of 160 adult patients (n = 160) with campylobacteriosis. A more severe form of the disease with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurred in 24 patients, i.e. 15% of the study population. Transient mild to moderate leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 16 (10.0%) and 24 patients (15.0%), respectively, and seven patients (4.4%) had bicytopenia. The following factors correlated statistically significantly with the intestinal form of the disease and SIRS: age under 70 years (p = 0.037), absence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.044), immunosuppressive treatment (p = 0.008), leukocyte count in the peripheral blood over 12.0 x 10(9)/l (p = 0.023), and body temperature over 38.0 degrees C (p < 0.001). Antibiotic treatment was used in 96.3% of patients with the intestinal form and in 100.0% of patients with SIRS. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 8.8 and 9.3 days, respectively. Postantibiotic colitis due to Clostridium difficile occurred in seven patients (4.4%). There were no organ or autoimmune complications observed. Conclusions: Campylobacteriosis with SIRS occurs preferentially in persons under 70 years of age. Empirical antibiotic treatment is used too frequently without being adequately deescalated.