Campylobacter fetus Associated with Pulmonary Abscess and Empyema

¹ From the Department of Medicine, Harbor General Hospital, Torrance Calif; the School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; and the Medical and Research Services, Veterans Administration (Wadsworth) Hospital, Los Angeles

An unusual case of community-acquired necrotizing aspiration pneumonia with pulmonary abscess and empyema associated with Campylobacter fetus (formerly Vibrio fetus) in mixed culture is reported. This microaerophilic gram-negative curved bacillus has been increasingly associated with human disease. Unlike most pathogens associated with community-acquired aspiration pneumonia, this organism is usually resistant to penicillin. Infection associated with this organism is characteristically relapsing in nature and requires protracted antimicrobial therapy.