Clinicians should be on alert for cases of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned in an information note on its website. In February, PAHO identified an outbreak of drug-resistant Campylobacter in 13 MSM in Minnesota and several previous outbreaks in the United States and Canada that date back to 1999. Patients may be presenting with diarrhea with dysentery features, the organization says.
Here’s why: The number of cases might not be alarming, but PAHO is concerned because the cases were associated with a high rate of antimicrobial resistance. Although Campylobacter is typically known as a foodborne bacterial pathogen that causes diarrhea, it is among the species of enteric pathogens that is also known to be transmitted among MSM. Based in Washington, D.C., PAHO is the specialized international health agency for the Americas and also serves as Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.