Resumen Campylobacter sp. es una bacteria que se adapta a diferentes condiciones y permite un cambio en su forma y requerimientos metabólicos, dificultando su diagnóstico microbiológico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente oncológico de 65 años con bacteriemia por Campylobacter sp. Se desarrolló el cultivo de microbiología clásico en microaerofilia a 42 o C, cultivo aeróbico en agar sangre a 37 o C y hemocultivo aeróbico a 37 o C. Además, se realizó la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para identificar el agente. La bacteria creció en todos los medios mostrando su termotolerancia y tolerancia a diferentes concentraciones de oxígeno, además de presentar una forma en espiral en el hemocultivo aeróbico. Finalmente, enfatizamos la flexibilidad fisiológica de la bacteria para adaptarse a diferentes condiciones y la importancia de la prueba molecular para identificar al agente, en especial en el crecimiento aeróbico en forma de espiral que pudiera confundirse con otras espiroquetas que causan episodios febriles.

Abstract Campylobacter sp. It is a bacterium that adapts to different conditions and allows a change in its form and metabolic requirements, making microbiological diagnosis difficult in such conditions. We present the case of a 65-year-old cancer patient with bacteremia caused by Campylobacter sp. The culture of classical microbiology was developed in microaerophilic at 42 o C, aerobic culture on blood agar at 37 o C and aerobic blood culture at 37 o C. In addition, the polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the agent. The bacteria grew in all media showing its thermotolerance and tolerance to different concentrations of oxygen, in addition to presenting a spiral shape in the aerobic blood culture. Finally, we emphasize the physiological flexibility of the bacterium to adapt to different conditions and the importance of the molecular test to identify the agent especially in aerobic growth in spiral form, which could be confused with other spirochetes that cause febrile episodes.

ABSTRACT Subdural Empyema (ESD) is the collection of purulent fluid that develops between the exterior “dura mater” layer and the middle “arachnoid mater” layer that covers the brain. ESD can be caused by a primary infection located in the paranasal sinuses. In many aerobic and/or anaerobic bacterial cases, hearing or traumatic processes serve as the causative agent. This report presents pharyngitis in a young girl which later developed into a subdural empyema caused by the bacteria Peptostreptococcus sp. The report emphasizes the correct clinical valuation of pharyngitis as a risk factor for developing subdural empyema in children.