Campylobacter jejuni myocarditis: A journey from the gut to the heart

OBJECTIVES: Campylobacter jejuni is an unusual cause of myocarditis and could easily be missed. METHODS: We describe a case of a 25 year old man, who presented with 3 day history of vomiting and diarrhoea, followed by chest pain and significant high sensitive troponin rise. RESULTS: The patient’s profuse diarrhoea was accompanied by raised inflammatory markers, electrocardiogram changes and evidence of cardiomyopathy on transthoracic echocardiogram. Various aetiological viral serologies which were tested for came back negative. However, stool culture was positive for the bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni. He was successfully treated with antibiotics and made an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis has a worldwide prevalence. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial when this organism is implicated in myocarditis.