Arcobacter spp

• "aerotolerant Campylobacters"

Gram Stain

• Gram negative curved bacilli, S-shaped or helical (fastidious) 

Clinical Significance

These organisms are found in a wide variety of environmental and animal sources.

They are Campylobacter like organisms that have been associated with diarrheal illnesses and rarely bacteremia, endocarditis and peritonitis in immunocompromised patients.

Usual Susceptibility Pattern

Many strains exhibit resistance to 1st generation cephalosporins.

They have variable susceptibility to macrolides and quinolones.