Cutaneous Manifestations of Campylobacter jejuni Infection: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 51-year-old man with active follicular lymphoma presented with several days of erythematous skin nodules on all extremities 2 weeks after a self-limited diarrheal illness. All serum immunoglobulin levels were found to be low. Blood cultures grew Campylobacter jejuni. The patient was given 1 week of azithromycin with complete resolution of his skin nodules. The literature of skin manifestations seen in active C. jejuni infection is reviewed. The majority of cases occur in immunocompromised hosts, many with low or no serum immunoglobulin levels. Postulated mechanisms include a lack of secretory immunoglobulin A in intestinal mucosa predisposing susceptible patients to translocated enteric pathogens; however, the precise pathogenesis underlying cutaneous manifestations is unknown.