Campylobacter bacteraemia. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

SummaryCampylobacter bacteraemia is rarely diagnosed.Campylobacter jejuni, while frequently causing enteritis, is probably underestimated as cause of bacteraemia. Extra-intestinal manifestations are rather uncommon. In our first patient the disease was accompanied by an elevation of the serum transaminases.Campylobacter fetus bacteraemia is far less frequent and occurs more often in patients with underlying illness. Secondary sites of infection are more often found. In our second case the bacteraemia was associated with pericarditis. We could find only one previous report of this association in the literature.The literature concerning Campylobacter bacteraemia is reviewed. Differences between the species are stressed.