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Document Details : Title: Infection of the thyroid gland caused by campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus Author(s): GOEGEBUER T, VERHAEGHE JP, VERLINDE A, DE LAERE E, SURMONT I Journal: Acta Clinica Belgica Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Date: 2007 Pages: 130-133 DOI: 10.2143/ACB.62.2.1002630 Abstract : We report what we consider to be the first case of an abscess of the thyroid gland due to Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (C. fetus) in a patient suffering from hyperthyroidism. C. fetus is known as a rare and opportunistic pathogen in humans, causing a broad variety of systemic infections. Acquisition by humans is thought to occur through contact with animals or animal products and to start as a gastro-intestinal colonization. The detection of C. fetus in stool is challenging, since culture efforts are generally directed in order to fulfil growth requirements of C. jejuni, a much more common enteric pathogen. Detection of C. fetus in non-stool samples is even more challenging since routine culture doesn not imply prolonged incubation (>72h), selective media and microaerophilic conditions. It is therefore not unlikely that human infections caused by C. fetus occur more often than generally assumed. |
