Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in Switzerland

: In a two-center study (Zurich and Berne) covering a 5-month period (September 1979 to January 1980) 665 faeces from patients with diarrhoea and 800 faeces from people without diarrhoea were examined for Campylobacter jejuni. By selective culture Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 28 faeces of 35 patients with diarrhoea (5,7%) while none of the normal faeces yielded a positive culture. Isolation rates for Salmonellae and Shigellae from the same material (patients with diarrhoea) were 12.6% and 0.9% respectively. Infection with Campylobacter usually causes unspecific enteritis with spontaneous remission after 2--10 days. Occasionally, however, a more severe course initially simulating acute abdominal illness can lead to hospital admission and even to surgical procedures. Symptomatic treatment is suggested for mild cases. In more severe cases, antibiotic therapy is recommended, erythromycin being the drug of choice.