The genus Campylobacter includes gram-negative, motile, curved rods that can evidence characteristic morphologies. These microorganisms require low
oxygen tension and an increased level of CO2 for growing. A case of
bacteremia due to Campylobacter fetus in a patient with a previous diagnosis of
breast cancer with
metastases in dorso-lumbar column and
acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB-M3 variant) is presented. The patient was admitted to our institution due to
loss of consciousness and a 2 day--history of bloody
diarrhea. She received successive
blood transfusions on account of her
pancytopenia. Thirteen days later she developed high-grade
fever. Samples were taken for blood and urine cultures and
antibiotic treatment with
clindamycin and
ciprofloxacin was instituted. Blood culture bottles were subcultivated at 48 hours in chocolate
agar. After 24 hours of incubation at 35 degrees C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere (candle jars), tiny colonies developed. Gram
stain showed spiral-shaped gram-negative rods in both samples. The strain was identified as Campylobacter fetus by conventional biochemical tests. The
antibiotic therapy was switched to
clindamycin and
gentamicin. The patient evolved favorably with negative blood cultures after a 5 day- treatment.