CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI IN THE STOMACH

Campylobacter jejuni is the commonest cause of acute bacterial enterit is in the UK. However, in this case a 74-year-old lady underwent gastr oscopy for an upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and was noted to have a gastric ulcer. Gastric biopsy revealed spiral gramnegative bacteria and culture yielded a moderate growth of C. jejuni. Identification wa s confirmed by growth characteristics, biochemical tests and PCR ampli fication of the species-specific flagellin gene-fla A. To prevent misi dentification, it is important that laboratories routinely culturing g astric biopsies for Helicobacter pylori should perform a rapid urease test and not rely solely on microscopic morphology.