[Campylobacter jejuni--a "recent" pathogen worthy of study. Present knowledge on its clinical aspects, diagnosis, therapy and epidemiology].

The frequency of human infections caused by Campylobacter (C.) jejuni is thought to be at present as significant as that of the gastroenteric salmonelloses. The clinical symptoms are mostly like enteritis, enterocolitis, acute abdomen or ileitis terminalis. Post-infection reactions are possible not only as arthritis or septicemia but also as meningitis, conjunctivitis, carditis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, peritonitis, urinary tract infection and abortion. Only cultural examinations confirm the diagnosis of an infection with C. jejuni. If chemotherapy is required, erythromycin is the remedy of choice. Animals are an important reservoir for C. jejuni, but the epidemiology of human infections with this microorganism is not well understood.