Which organism is a common stool pathogen?

Prepare for the CAMLPR Microbiology Test. Utilize flashcards and engaging multiple-choice questions, each equipped with descriptions and explanations. Ready yourself for an excellent performance!

When considering common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis that show up in stool, Campylobacter jejuni is a frequent culprit. It is a curved, motile, gram-negative rod that tends to cause inflammatory diarrhea with cramps, fever, and often blood in the stool. Campylobacter infections are commonly linked to undercooked poultry and unpasteurized dairy, and they’re typically detected with specialized stool cultures under microaerophilic conditions (often at 42°C). Among the organisms listed, this one most commonly produces acute diarrheal illness in many settings, more so than Staphylococcus aureus (usually toxin-mediated food poisoning rather than a true stool infection), Listeria monocytogenes (more associated with invasive disease in specific populations), or Shigella dysenteriae (which can cause dysentery but is less frequently the overall cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in many areas).