2009 · Mahlen — Oral abscess caused by Campylobacter rectus: case report and literature review.
Super-Abstract
This case report and literature review describes the first documented case of a palate abscess caused by Campylobacter rectus in a patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The organism was cultured under anaerobic conditions without additional hydrogen gas in the atmosphere, which is notable because C. rectus typically requires H₂ or formate as an electron donor to grow. (Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009.)
Commentary
This is a clinical microbiology case report, not a study of hydrogen therapy. The relevance to molecular H₂ is microbiological: Campylobacter rectus is an anaerobic bacterium that can use hydrogen gas as an energy source for growth. The authors note that the organism was isolated without additional H₂ in the culture atmosphere, suggesting this strain can survive and infect without relying on exogenous H₂. The paper reviews the atmospheric requirements and growth conditions of C. rectus. This work does not address therapeutic use of H₂, H₂-rich water, or hydrogen inhalation in any clinical context. It is primarily relevant to clinical microbiology and infectious disease, not to the H₂ therapy field.
Key quotes
- „Campylobacter rectus was isolated under routine anaerobic conditions (no additional hydrogen gas in the atmosphere) from an oral, nonperiodontal abscess from a patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.“ — the key clinical and microbiological finding — unusual isolation without H₂ atmosphere
- „We report the first case of a palate abscess caused by C. rectus and review the literature and atmospheric requirements of this organism.“ — the scope of this case report: first palate abscess case + literature review of C. rectus biology
Our assessment
This paper is a clinical microbiology case report and literature review. Its connection to molecular H₂ is indirect — it concerns a bacterium that can metabolize H₂ as a growth substrate, not H₂ as a therapeutic agent. The study provides no evidence about therapeutic hydrogen use in humans. It is not a source for claims about H₂ health effects. For completeness: the patient had a rare non-periodontal oral abscess with an unusual oral pathogen.
Study design
- Type: case report + literature review · n: 1 patient (adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction with palate abscess) · H₂ connection: microbiological — C. rectus uses H₂ as energy donor; this case isolated without H₂ atmosphere
- Result: first documented C. rectus palate abscess; organism cultured without H₂ supplementation; literature review of C. rectus atmospheric requirements
Abstract
Campylobacter rectus was isolated under routine anaerobic conditions (no additional hydrogen gas in the atmosphere) from an oral, nonperiodontal abscess from a patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. We report the first case of a palate abscess caused by C. rectus and review the literature and atmospheric requirements of this organism.
Source & links
Screenshot of the PubMed page
This page mirrors the published abstract (© the authors / publisher) for reference and citation. The canonical source is the PubMed record linked above. This is not medical advice.