Erysipelas-like skin lesions associated with Campylobacter jejuni septicemia in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia

Three cases are reported of hypogammaglobulinemic males with recurrentCampylobacter jejuni septicemia and erysipelas-like cellulitis without diarrhoea. In one patientCampylobacter jejuni grew from skin biopsy specimens. The findings in another patient were strongly suggestive of osteomyelitis caused byCampylobacter jejuni. Since the susceptibility of hypogammaglobulinemic patients to infection withCampylobacter jejuni is probably related to a lack of serum bactericidal activity againstCampylobacter jejuni due to lack of IgM, two patients in whom previous antimicrobial treatment failed were treated with plasma infusions. This regimen supplemented with imipenem resulted in cure of these relapsing infections.Campylobacter jejuni septicemia must be considered in hypogammaglobulinemic patients who present with periodic fever and cellulitis.