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

OBJECTIVESCampylobacter jejuni is an unusual cause of myocarditis and could easily be missed. METHODSWe 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. RESULTSThe 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. CONCLUSIONSCampylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis has a worldwide prevalence. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial when this organism is implicated in myocarditis.