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Septic abortion associated withCampylobacter fetus subspeciesfetus infection: Case report and review of the literature

Septischer Abort mit Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus-Infektion. Fallbericht und Literaturübersicht

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Summary

In contrast to the situation in cattle, goat and sheep,Campylobacter fetus subspeciesfetus only rarely causes disease in humans. While a major inducer of septic abortion in animals, only a minority of clinical infections in humans are found during pregnancy. Eleven cases have so far been described in pregnant women. Clinical symptomatology is usually mild during gestation but often leads to premature labor. Here we present a multigravida with positive cultures forC. fetus who went into septic shock. She completely recovered after delivery of aC. fetus-infected fetus at 18 weeks' gestation and treatment with a combination of cephazolin and gentamicin.C. fetus infections should be suspected in patients with intensive contact with (infected) cattle or after intake of unpasteurized dairy products.

Zusammenfassung

Campylobacter fetus ssp.fetus verursacht beim Menschen — im Gegensatz zu Rindern, Ziegen und Schafen — nur selten Infektionen. Dabei finden sich beim Menschen nur wenige der durch diesen wichtigen Verursacher septischer Aborte bei Tieren bedingten Infektionen bei Schwangeren. In der Schwangerschaft auftretende Symptome sind meist leicht, Frühgeburtlichkeit tritt jedoch häufig auf. Wir berichten über eine Multigravida, bei der ein septischer Schock auftrat. In den Kulturen fand sichC. fetus. Nach Entbindung eines mitC. fetus infizierten Feten der 18. Gestationswoche und Behandlung mit einer Kombination aus Cephazolin und Gentamicin erholte sich die Patientin vollständig. Bei Patienten, die intensiven Kontakt mit infizierten Tieren haben oder unpasteurisierte Milchprodukte verzehrt haben, sollte an eineC. fetus-Infektion gedacht werden.

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Sauerwein, R.W., Horrevorts, A.M. & Bisseling, J. Septic abortion associated withCampylobacter fetus subspeciesfetus infection: Case report and review of the literature. Infection 21, 331–333 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01712458

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01712458

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