Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter spp. are Gram-negative bacilli enteric pathogens that pose a major public health problem worldwide. In this genus, the most important species is Campylobacter jejuni. This bacterium causes diarrhea as its main symptom, which its intensity varies from mild to severe. Patients’ stools may be watery or bloody. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of the species of Campylobacter. jejuni in Zahedan, a major city in southeastern Iran. Fecal samples from 164 patients with acute diarrhea from Zahedan hospitals were collected from 2011 to 2013. Then the samples were streaked onto a campylobacter selective agar containing supplement and 7% defibrinated sheep blood. Conventional bacteriological tests (such as culture and biochemical tests) were performed to confirm the genus and differentiate at the species level. Finally, disk diffusion method was performed according to the recommendation of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) to determine the susceptibility of isolates to antibacterial agents. Out of 164 samples, 19 (11.6%) were reported positive by culture which confirmed by biochemical tests. Fifteen (78.9%) patients, whose samples were positive, hospitalized in infant ward. Two (10.5%) patients treated as outpatients. Two remaining (10.5%) patients were admitted in internal medicine ward. All of isolated strains were susceptible or moderately susceptible to erythromycin as the drug of choice. In this study, the prevalence of the disease (11.6%) is found to be more than other parts of Iran. The symptomatic infection mainly affects children younger than 5 years