Yersinosis Health Article

Treatment

Since most of the symptoms caused by Yersinia are self limiting, specific antibiotic treatment is generally not needed. Patients with dehydration from gastroenteritis are given supportive therapy, including treatment aimed at replacing fluids.

Antibiotics are indicated, however, for those patients who develop more severe infections, such as invasion of the bloodstream (septicemia), or who develop infections at specific sites, such as bone. A variety of antibiotics have been used, but it is not clear which produces the best results.

No specific treatment is indicated for the joint, ocular, skin, or urinary symptoms that result from infection. As stated, these are not due to direct invasion by the bacteria, but are related to changes in immune reactions produced by the infection. However, treatment of those experiencing severe arthritic symptoms with NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or steroid injection at inflamed joints is used in selected cases.

Prognosis

As noted above, most of the time, Yersinia infection has an excellent outlook. However, when these bacteria invade the bloodstream or produce disease beyond the gastrointestinal tract, the outlook is less positive. This may be because more severe infections occur in those with decreased immunity. Death rate from septicemia has been reported to be as high as 50%.

Prevention

Safe food handling procedures and food-preparation practices are by far the best means of avoiding infection. Undercooked food, especially pork or other animal products, should not be eaten.

BOOKS

Campbell, Grant L., and David T. Dennis. "Other Yersinia Infections." In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, ed. Anthony S. Fauci, et al. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.

Hamer, Davidson H., and Sherwood L. Gorbach. "Yersinia." In Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, ed. Mark Feldman, et al. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 1997.

OTHER

"Bad Bug Book." Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. <http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html>.

David Kaminstein, MD

KEY TERMS

Mesenteric adenitis—Inflammation of the lymph nodes which serve the small intestine. Has symptoms similar to appendicitis.

Septicemia—Systemic disease associated with the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the blood; blood poisoning.