Campylobacter-associated appendicitis: prevalence and clinicopathologic features.

To determine the prevalence of Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni-associated appendicitis, we studied, retrospectively, by means of immunohistochemistry, the appendectomy specimens of 116 consecutive patients, operated upon because of suspected acute appendicitis. We found immunohistochemical evidence of Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni infection in three patients. These findings were confirmed by electron microscopy. Based upon these three cases and five additional appendectomy specimens from patients with Campylobacter enteritis diagnosed by stool cultures, the clinical and histologic picture of Campylobacter-associated appendicitis is described. It is concluded that Campylobacter infection may present with an acute appendicitis-like clinical picture. In contrast with acute phlegmonous appendicitis, the histologic abnormalities in Campylobacter-associated appendicitis are limited to the appendiceal mucosa.