Dawaa Reference

acute

Campylobacter Infection

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources3 sources

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen. If the project requires indication-matched sourcing, this row needs a WHO or CDC diarrhoeal-disease citation instead. · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph. · WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2

Verified against4 documents
  • Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen.
  • Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph.
  • WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2
  • Campylobacter Infection - disease-level clinical article (campylobacter-infection-clinical.txt)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (6)

  • A 1-3 day prodrome of high fever, rigors, dizziness, and body aches marks a more severe course [dizziness · fever · muscle pain · rigors]
  • Symptoms begin 24 to 72 hours after ingestion and peak over 24 to 48 hours
  • Acute diarrheal illness lasts about 7 days on average
  • Abdominal pain often persists for days to weeks after the diarrhea itself has resolved [abdominal pain · diarrhoea]
  • More than 10 stools per day, often bloody and mucous-like, can occur during the acute phase
  • Abdominal pain can mimic appendicitis, reflecting acute ileocolitis [abdominal pain]

Signs — what you find (2)

  • Patients can look notably unwell on examination
  • Diffuse abdominal tenderness on exam, most marked in the right and left lower quadrants [abdominal tenderness]

Tests (5)

  • Diagnosis is established by stool culture, EIA, or PCR
  • Selective culture works best because the organisms grow optimally at 42C in 5-10% oxygen
  • EIA and PCR are more sensitive than stool culture
  • Real-time PCR can rapidly and accurately detect C. jejuni directly in diarrheal stool
  • Rapid stool antigen tests exist but have questionable value as stand-alone tests

If not this — what else fits (5)

  • Other bacterial diarrheal illnesses: Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Listeria, C. difficile, and Yersinia enterocolitica
  • Viral gastroenteritis such as norovirus, and toxin-mediated food poisoning, can look similar
  • Parasitic causes (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba) can prolong diarrhea in travelers and the immunocompromised, mimicking this infection
  • Pain mimicking appendicitis may need ultrasound, CT, or MRI to sort out
  • Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis can also cause abdominal pain with bloody stools, distinguished by culture, imaging, biopsy, and colonoscopy

SourceStatPearls "Campylobacter Infection" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

1

ORS

1st line

Formoral.solution

Adult dose and duration

Plan A (no dehydration): Drink as much ORS solution / fluid as desired after each loose stool. Plan B (some dehydration): 2,200 to 4,000 mL of ORS solution over the first 4 hours (up to 750 mL/hour), then reassess. - Until diarrhoea stops

Paediatric dose

(Plan B (some dehydration): give the child's weight in kg x 75 mL of ORS solution in the first 4 hours, then reassess. Plan A (no dehydration): 50-100 mL after each loose stool under 2 years, 100-200 mL from 2 to 10 years.)

Dose by age
Under 2 years:50 to 100 mL of ORS after each loose stool (Plan A, no dehydration). With some dehydration, Plan B is by weight at any age.
2 to 10 years:100 to 200 mL of ORS after each loose stool (Plan A, no dehydration). With some dehydration, Plan B is by weight at any age.
Dose source

WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2

Why

Standard oral rehydration regimen for infectious diarrhoea of any bacterial cause; Campylobacter causes typical, not cholera-scale, fluid loss.

Cautions
  • Mainstay of treatment for essentially all patients regardless of whether antibiotics are also given.
  • Assess and correct dehydration first; use the higher-volume cholera regimen only if profuse watery ('rice-water') stool suggests cholera instead.
  • Continue feeding/breastfeeding in children alongside ORS.
  • Reassess or refer for high fever, bloody diarrhoea, signs of dehydration, symptoms lasting more than a week, or an immunocompromised patient.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
GLUCOHYDRAN 10 SACHET.ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)1.75 EGP
REHYDRAN N 10 SACHETCID4.50 EGP
REHYDRO ZINC 10 SACHETSCID7.00 EGP
ORS 20 SACHETSPHAROPHARMA40.00 EGP
ELECTRO MASH SYRUP 200 MLMASH PREMIERE60.00 EGP
FLEXOLYTE ORAL REHYDRATION SOL. 240 MLKEMPETRO FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES65.00 EGP
HERO ORS 200 MLHERO > HERO MEA TRADING120.00 EGP
SANSO ORS SYRUP 140 MLAUG PHARMA400.00 EGP
2

REFERRAL & SAFETY-NETTING (NO DRUG THERAPY)

1st line
Dose source

Campylobacter Infection - disease-level clinical article (campylobacter-infection-clinical.txt)

Why

Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.

Cautions
  • RED FLAG - Antibiotics are only indicated for high-risk patients (immunocompromised, elderly) or severe disease (fever, bloody stools, severe abdominal pain) - healthy patients get supportive care only.
  • RED FLAG - Guillain-Barre syndrome (ascending paralysis) is a delayed post-infectious complication patients should be warned to watch for.
3

AZITHROMYCIN

2nd line

Strength500 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

500 mg once daily x 3 days

Paediatric dose

Formulary general dosing for susceptible infection, oral: 10 to 12 mg/kg as a single dose on day 1 (maximum 500 mg), then 5 to 6 mg/kg once daily (maximum 250 mg) for the rest of the course. The day-1 dose and the maintenance dose are different - do not give 10 mg/kg every day. (The flat 10 mg/kg once daily, max 500 mg, is the formulary's intravenous figure.)

AWaRe

WATCH group - carries resistance cost. Egyptian EML 2025.

Dose source

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen.

Why

A 3-day course of azithromycin is the standard first-line antibiotic for severe or prolonged Campylobacter enteritis; the source dose (500 mg once daily) matches this regimen even though the library files the row under otitis media.

Cautions
  • Paediatric regimen is a day-1 loading dose then a halved daily dose - it cannot be calculated from a single mg/kg figure.
  • The Egyptian formulary lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication for azithromycin; the dose shown is its general susceptible-infection dosing.
  • Preferred over ciprofloxacin for Campylobacter given rising fluoroquinolone resistance.
  • Reserve for severe, bloody, or prolonged (over 1 week) illness, or in the immunocompromised - most cases are self-limiting and need only rehydration.
  • QT prolongation risk with other QT-prolonging drugs.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
AZATRIBACT 500MG 3 CAPS.RIVA PHARMA S.A.E.13.50 EGP (4.50/unit)
GIGAZOCIN 500MG 5 CAPS.EGPI > PIONEER27.50 EGP (5.50/unit)
SYSTYMYCIN 500MG 3 CAPS.EGPI > NOVELL PHARMA21.50 EGP (7.17/unit)
AZITHROMASH 500 MG 3 F.C. TABS.MASH PREMIERE48.00 EGP (16.00/unit)
AZALIDE 500MG 3 CAPS.UP PHARMA52.00 EGP (17.33/unit)
AZROLID 500 MG 6 F.C.TABS.AMRIYA126.00 EGP (21.00/unit)
ZERAMERATE 500 MGEGPI > GAMMA PHARMA28.50 EGP
DISTABCIN 500 MG 3 DISPERSIBLE TABS.EGPI43.50 EGP
ZITHRODOSE 100MG/5ML SUSP. 15ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solidEL-OBOUR > AVERROES PHARMA-EGYPT12.00 EGP
ZITHROPHATE 200MG/5ML SUSP. 15ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solidORGANO PHARMA > NOVELL PHARMA12.75 EGP
4

CIPROFLOXACIN

3rd line

Strength500 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

500 mg by mouth every 12 hours. x 3 to 14 days - the formulary's range for nontyphoidal Salmonella GI infection. It gives no duration for shigellosis, campylobacter or yersiniosis.

Paediatric dose

10 mg/kg/dose [child max 500 mg]

(Formulary general paediatric dosing for mild to moderate infection: 10 mg/kg per dose twice daily by mouth (immediate release), maximum 500 mg per dose. The formulary's 15 to 20 mg/kg per dose figure is for severe infection and carries a 750 mg per- dose maximum - do not pair 15 mg/kg with a 500 mg cap. Ciprofloxacin is not first-line in children and the formulary gives no paediatric enteric-infection regimen.)

Dose by weight
3kg30 mg/dose
4kg40 mg/dose
5kg50 mg/dose
6kg60 mg/dose
7kg70 mg/dose
8kg80 mg/dose
9kg90 mg/dose
10kg100 mg/dose
11kg110 mg/dose
12kg120 mg/dose
13kg130 mg/dose
14kg140 mg/dose
15kg150 mg/dose
16kg160 mg/dose
17kg170 mg/dose
18kg180 mg/dose
19kg190 mg/dose
20kg200 mg/dose
21kg210 mg/dose
22kg220 mg/dose
23kg230 mg/dose
24kg240 mg/dose
25kg250 mg/dose
26kg260 mg/dose
27kg270 mg/dose
28kg280 mg/dose
29kg290 mg/dose
30kg300 mg/dose
31kg310 mg/dose
32kg320 mg/dose
33kg330 mg/dose
34kg340 mg/dose
35kg350 mg/dose
36kg360 mg/dose
37kg370 mg/dose
38kg380 mg/dose
39kg390 mg/dose
40kg400 mg/dose
41kg410 mg/dose
42kg420 mg/dose
43kg430 mg/dose
44kg440 mg/dose
45kg450 mg/dose
46kg460 mg/dose
47kg470 mg/dose
48kg480 mg/dose
49kg490 mg/dose
50kg500 mg/dose
AWaRe

WATCH group - carries resistance cost. Egyptian EML 2025.

Dose source

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph.

Why

Alternative antibiotic for bloody or severe Campylobacter enteritis when azithromycin cannot be used, though resistance now makes it second choice.

Cautions
  • Not routinely first-line in children (formulary note).
  • The only Yersinia entry in this monograph is plague (Yersinia pestis), a different organism from the yersiniosis on this row - that condition has no formulary support here.
  • The formulary reserves this enteric regimen for severe illness or patients at high risk of invasive disease.
  • Second-line only - Campylobacter fluoroquinolone resistance is rising; use azithromycin first when available.
  • Tendinitis/tendon rupture, QT prolongation, and glycaemic swings are class risks.
  • Separate from antacids, iron, calcium, or zinc by 2 hours.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
QUINOLOROX 500MG 10 F.C. TAB.EPCI > ROXXEN10.00 EGP (1.00/unit)
ECACIPROFLOX 500 MG 20 F.C. TABS.FUTURE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES (FPI) > EGYPTIAN CANADIAN PHARMACEUTICAL27.00 EGP (1.35/unit)
ELMODOXACIN 500MG 10 F.C.TAB.EGPI > SEA PHARM20.00 EGP (2.00/unit)
CIPROQUIN 500MG 10 F.C. TAB.UNIPHARMA50.00 EGP (5.00/unit)
CIPROFLOXACIN-ORGANO 500 MG 10 F.C.TABS.ORGANOPHARMA > ORGANO63.00 EGP (6.30/unit)
CIPROFAR 500MG 10 F.C.TAB.PHARCO69.00 EGP (6.90/unit)
CIPROMEGA XL 500MG 10 EXT. REL. F.C.TABS.MASH PREMIERE48.00 EGP
HEROXACIN 500MG 10 SCORED F.C. TAB.EGPI > HERO PHARM69.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.