Isolation of Campylobacter fetus from blood cultures

Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus, previously known as Campylobacter fetus subsp. intestinalis, was isolated from two blood cultures taken from a 45-year-old man admitted with gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of lymphocytic lymphoma. Campylobacters are not common blood culture isolates but can be a cause of bacteraemia and septicaemia especially in the compromised host. The isolation and identification of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus by standard blood culture techniques is described and a literature review of 112 cases of Campylobacter bacteraemia is presented.