Answer

  Cameron Case Study

This report examines the disease-causing bacteria according to Cameron’s case. Key aspects to note in the case study include poultry food, eating leftovers after storing them in the refrigerator, the three days period until the symptoms began to show, and the clinical manifestations of headache, stomach pains, and severe diarrhoea. In addition, he notes blood in his stool. Based on the doctor’s initial assessment, the bacteria in the bloody stool is Gram-negative and helical shaped. Included in the discussion are the micro-organism, diagnosis, treatment, transmission, prognosis with treatment, and complications if untreated.

Micro-organism

Based on the symptoms and the stool sample, the micro-organism is a Campylobacter bacterium. Its family is Campylobacteraceae and the binomial name is Campylobacter jejuni. It is helical-shaped, microaerophilic, and Gram-negative (Stef et al., 2013). According to the World Health Organization, the bacteria is among the four main causes of diarrhoea disorders (WHO, 2018). The virulence factors of the bacteria entail colonization of the intestinal tract which results in watery diarrhoea. The blood in the stool emanates from severe inflammatory. The adhesion, translocation, and invasion across the intestinal epithelium describe the pathogenicity of the C. Jejuni. The bacterium triggers the microtubule (MT)-dependent penetration to the intestinal epithelium.

Diagnosis

According to the clinical manifestations and doctor’s description of the blood stool finding, Cameron is suffering from Campylobacteriosis which is caused by Campylobacter jejuni. As espoused by Kaakoush, Castano-Rodriguez, Mitchell, and Man (2015), the symptoms of this condition commence 2-3 days after the infection. Common symptoms of the infection include diarrhoea that is frequently bloody, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Based on Cameron’s information, he has bloody stool, headache, and stomach pain. Also, the condition begun 3 days after consuming the food. The doctor’s discovery upon evaluation of the stool is the presence of a Gram-negative helical shaped bacteria. These characteristics describe C jejuni bacteria.

Disease Transmission

Campylobacteriosis disease is zoonosis and is commonly described as foodborne. The main transmission route is through meat products, undercooked products, contaminated milk, and raw milk. In addition, contact with contaminated water is a transmission route. According to Fischer and Paterek (2019), Campylobacter species are highly prevalent among cattle, pigs, poultry, pets, cats, dogs, and sheep. In most cases, meat or carcasses contain Campylobacter which get into the meat during the slaughtering process. In animals, the bacteria rarely cause infection. In every source mentioned above, it is uncertain to quantify the disease burden although contaminated poultry and undercooked products are the main contributors (Kaakoush et al., 20154). In Cameron’s case, possible explanations for the bacteria include undercooked poultry food, poor storage of the leftovers, and contamination during the party.

Treatment

Treating Campylobacteriosis commences by detecting the bacteria through laboratory testing of fluids, body tissue, and bloody stool. The test may be a culture or diagnostic to detect the bacterial genetic material. The treatment entails both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions although the infection may clear without particular treatment. Pharmacological intervention entails antibiotics which is recommended in cases where the C. jejuni has damaged the intestinal tissues (Fischer & Paterek, 2019). The antibiotics may also act to eliminate the bacteria for people who are carriers. According to Johnson, Shank, and Johnson (2017), the antibiotics reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms duration by 1.32 days. A common drug is erythromycin taken at a strength of 250-500 mg orally after every 6 hours. In severe condition, 1-4 g/day IV through continuous infusion or after every 6 hours is recommended. The non-pharmacological interventions entail taking plenty of water and maintaining a high level of hygiene. Preventative measures are also imperative which include food inspection especially for poultry products, disinfection of faeces before sewage disposal, biosecurity, high hygienic slaughtering approaches, and bactericidal treatment.

Symptoms for Untreated Condition

Campylobacteriosis’ common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and headache as reflected in Cameron’s case. In case the condition is left untreated, there are grave complications such as bacteraemia which is described by presence of C. jejuni in the blood, Pancreatitis which entails infection of the pancreas, and Hepatitis which involves infection of the liver (WHO, 2018). For pregnant women, the condition may also result in miscarriage. Although the disorder may clear within 7-10 days, post infections may entail reactive Arthritis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome which is a neurological condition.

Prognosis with Treatment

Campylobacterioisis treatment is aimed at electrolyte repletion and hydration. Taking plenty of water restores the hydration degree of the patient’s body. The antibiotics are considered for the high-risk individuals including the elderly and the immunocompromised (Fischer & Paterek, 2019). The treatment further reduces the duration of gastrointestinal symptoms. The likelihood of hospitalization is also reduced with treatment. Less than 1% of the patients are diagnosed with transient Bacteremia in acute infection. In extreme conditions, the less than 1% of mortality rate from the disorder is addressed through effective treatment.

In summary, Cameron’s symptoms and the doctor’s discovery of the Gram-negative helical shaped bacteria reflects C. jejuni which causes Campylobacterioisis. The condition is among the leading food poisoning cases. It is characterized by abdominal pain, headache, diarrhoea, and bloody stool. Other clinical manifestations include nausea and fever. The condition takes 2-5 days to present, and although it clears by itself, antibiotics and plenty of water for hydration are considered profound pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.