--- title: Diagnosis of a Campylobacter Infection date: 2021-01-04T19:43:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-diagnosis" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) / # Diagnosis of a Campylobacter Infection ### How is *Campylobacter* infection diagnosed? *Campylobacter* enteritis is often clinically indistinguishable from other viral or bacterial gastrointestinal illnesses. Diagnostic testing is not always indicated for children who present with acute diarrheal illnesses, with or without fever or vomiting, because determining the cause often does not change clinical management. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutcampylobactercom-images/outbreaks/image10.jpeg)While stool culture is the gold standard for the identification of *Campylobacter* species, it can be difficult to isolate using standard culture media. *Campylobacter* grows best on media containing selective antibiotics and in microaerobic conditions with 5% to 10% oxygen, 1% to 10% carbon dioxide, and some hydrogen. A diagnosis can also be established by the direct examination of a stool sample using contrast microscopy or Gram stain, during which the *Campylobacter* organism is identified by its characteristic appearance as a comma- or spiral-shaped gram-negative bacillus. This direct examination provides for a rapid presumptive diagnosis, but it can only be confirmed by stool culture. Only a small percentage of persons suffering from *Campylobacter* infections both present for medical care and have their infections culture-confirmed. In the study of one *Campylobacter* outbreak, only 5.4% of the outbreak cases visited a physician. Many persons submit samples for culturing after they have started antibiotics, which may make it even more difficult for a lab to grow *Campylobacter*. Blood cultures are often not performed and, in most cases, the bloodstream is not infected. ### Newer technology picks up more infections, but has limitations. The use of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) has been increasing in recent years. The 2016-2019 FoodNET data revealed a large increase in the number of infections diagnosed by CIDTs, whether the culture was positive or negative. Similarly, this data saw an increase in the number of infections that were diagnosed by stool culture alone. CIDT tests are generally more sensitive and have faster turnaround times than traditional culture-based diagnostics. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR testing) identifies *Campylobacter* from stool 20% to 40% more frequently than culture-based methods. However, because these tests identify the presence of nucleic acid rather than viable organisms, the clinical significance is not always clear. The identification of multiple pathogens is not uncommon and can be difficult to interpret. In addition, CIDTs cannot be used to identify antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Unlike organisms such as *Shigella* and *Salmonella*, cultures of *Campylobacter* often are not performed automatically when the organism is detected by CIDT. Antibiotic resistance to fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines is common in *Campylobacter* isolates, so if treatment is warranted and there is concern for resistance, cultures can still be beneficial after identification by CIDT. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutcampylobactercom-images/outbreaks/image11.jpeg) [ Next: Treatment for Campylobacter Infection › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-treatment) ### More information about Campylobacter [January 11, 2022 ###### Preventing Campylobacter Outbreaks: What you need to know Campylobacter jejuni grows poorly on properly refrigerated foods but does survive refrigeration and will grow if contaminated foods are left out at room temperature. The bacterium is sensitive to heat ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/preventing-campylobacter-outbreaks-what-you-need-to-know) [October 28, 2012 ###### The Family Farm Raw Milk Campylobacter Lawsuit – Pennsylvania (2012) The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed at least 80 cases of Campylobacter infections in an outbreak tied to contaminated unpasteurized milk from The Family Cow dairy, located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/the-family-farm-raw-milk-campylobacter-lawsuit-) [January 01, 2009 ###### Kinikin Dairy Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak - Colorado (2009) At least 8 people were sickened with Campylobacter from consuming raw milk produced by the Kinikin Corner Dairy in Montrose, Colorado. The dairy was ordered to stop production of raw ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/kinikin-dairy-raw-milk-campylobacter-colorado) [November 23, 2008 ###### Alexandre EcoDairy Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak Lawsuit - California (2008) In the summer of 2008, an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni in Del Norte County, California (near the Oregon border) that sickened 16 people was traced to Alexandre EcoDairy Farm raw ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/alexandre-ecodairy-campylobacter-outbreak-in-raw-milk) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=campylobacter&year=all) ## All Campylobacter Resources [###### Campylobacter Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/about-campylobacter) [###### The Incidence of Campylobacter Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-incidence) [###### The Prevalence of Campylobacter in Food and Elsewhere ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-prevalence) [###### Transmission of Campylobacter jejuni ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-transmission) [###### Symptoms of Campylobacter infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-symptoms-risks) [###### Complications of Campylobacter Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-complications) [###### Diagnosis of a Campylobacter Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-diagnosis) [###### Treatment for Campylobacter Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-treatment) [###### The Economic Impact of Campylobacter Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-economic-impact) [###### Real Life Impacts of Campylobacter Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/real-life-impacts-of-campylobacter-infection) [###### Mari Tardiff's Story ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/mari-tardiffs-story) [###### How Can Campylobacter Food Poisoning Be Prevented? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-prevention) [###### Campylobacter Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-outbreaks) [###### Campylobacter References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter/campylobacter-references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)