Species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp. and related organisms: a 2-year survey in a tertiary university hospital

Abstract

Result.: In total, 142 isolates from 140 infected patients, including 135 fecal isolates and seven blood isolates, were analyzed. Clinical findings of the seven patients with bacteremia and the seven patients with gastroenteritis due to species other than Campylobacfer jejuni or Campylobacter coli showed a predominance of immunocompromised patients. The fecal isolates include 113 (83.7%) Campylobacfer jejuni, nine (6.6%) Campylobacter coli, four Arcobacter butzleri, two Campylobacter fetus and one Helicobacter pullorum. Of the seven isolates from blood culture. three were Campylobacter jejuni, three Campylobacter fetus and one Helicobacter cinaedi. Resistance to ciprofloxacin (MIC >4 mgk) was reported for 18 (1 5.6%) Campylobacfer jejuni isolates, three Campylobacfer coli isolates, one Campylobacter fetus isolate and one Arcobacfer bufzleri isolate. Resistance to erythromycin (MIC >8 mgL) was found for two isolates of Campylobacter coli, which were also resistant to ciprofloxacin, and the isolate of Helicobacter cinaedi. Conclusions: This study reports a predominance of Campylobacfer jejuni from stools, but a variety of more rarely isolated species was found in immunocompromised patients, emphasizing the necessity to identify fecal as well as blood isolates to the species level. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests to major antibiotics active against campylobacteria should be done routinely to follow the rate of resistance.