What Is Microbiology - Gastroenteritis

​Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is caused by campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter jejuni may cause watery diarrhea and dysentery. 

The common mode of transmission is via ingestion of contaminated water or food. Gastroenteritis is associated with Guillain Barre syndrome ( due to production of antibody against the core lipopolysaccharides on campylobacter which cross react with gangliosides of the host ) and inflammatory bowel disease.

Gastroenteritis is a comma shaped, motile gram negative rod. The virulence factors of campylobacter jejuni may include enterotoxin which lead to watery diarrhea and cytotoxin lead to dysentery due cellular invasion and destruction.

The treatment may include supportive treatment with fluid replacement and antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin.