Campylobacter jejuni infection occurring during pregnancy

Abstract

Campylobacter infections occurring during pregnancy have been associated with spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, prematurity and neonatal sepsis, all ten Campylobacter jejuni infections diagnosed in the approximately 24,000 pregnant women attending a 520-bed hospital between January 1984 and December 1988 were reviewed. Nine women delivered healthy babies at term. In one case, Campylobacter infection at 28 weeks of gestation was associated with premature labour and delivery with subsequent neonatal sepsis and death. One other infant developed Campylobacter jejuni enterocolitis at 3 days of age. Although maternal Campylobacter jejuni infection tends to be mild and self-limited, there may be more serious complications for the fetus or neonate, especially if infection occurs before the third trimester of pregnancy.

Brucellosis in Pregnant Women

“…This statement is difficult to verify because data on the incidence of abortion caused by other microorganisms are lacking or are not directly comparable. For example, Campylobacter species, like Brucella species, are welldescribed causes of abortion in animals; however, in a series of 10 pregnant women with Campylobacter jejuni infection who were at a single hospital, only 1 (10%) had premature labor at 28 weeks' gestation that resulted in a neonatal death [18]. Other reports of Campylobacter infection in pregnant women include a report of a series of cases that were selected on the basis of the occurrence of abortion [19] and single case reports of fetal loss in association with septic shock, bacteremia, and diarrheal illness [20][21][22].…”

Enteric Campylobacter: Purging Its Secrets?

“…Maternal C. jejuni bacteremia is associated with fetoplacental involvement, resulting in premature labor, perinatal sepsis, and neonatal meningitis. Fetal and neonatal mortality rate may be as high as 80%, particularly if infection occurs before the third trimester of pregnancy (104,105). Other extraintestinal manifestations (Table 2) are rare.…”

Plasma cytokine response in mice with bacterial infection

“…12 Campylobacter is responsible for pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cystitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and even miscarriage. 13,14 We have previously shown that intraperitoneal inoculation of C. jejuni in mice, in spite of no visible signs of illness, resulted in bacterial dissemination and tissue invasion. 15 Mice intraperitoneally injected with L. monocytogenes exhibited some generalized symptoms (inactivity, ruffled fur) and more prominent gross and histologic abnormalities in the examined organs.…”