Yersinia enterocolitica
| Categorization |
| Cell Wall: Gram Negative |
Shape: Rod |
- The natural hosts of Y. enterocolitica are a variety of wild and domesticated mammals and so the organism is considered a zoonotic
- Transmission to humans probably occurs via ingestion of contaminated food stuffs
- Notably, this organism can survive and proliferate even in the context of refrigeration
- Ingested Y. entercolitica invade into the small intestine mucosa which can result in ulcerations
- The organisms often spread to the mesenteric lymph nodes and characteristically cause lymphadenopathy of the mestenteric nodes, termed "Mesenteric Adenitis"
- In a small minority of patients, the organisms can spread hematogenously and infect a variety of organs
- Some strains elaborate an enterotoxin which may contribute to the clinical consequences
- Y. enterocolitica infection is primarily characterized by an infectious diarrhea which can range from watery to bloody
- Abdominal pain is seen in many patients and often localizes to the RLQ which can mimic acute appendicitis
- Although most infections are self-limited, in a small minority of patient, hematogenous dissemination can lead to a variety of more serious consequences
- Because most infections are self-limited, antibiotic therapy is of dubious benefit