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Culture Methods to Determine the Limit of Detection and Survival in Transport Media of Campylobacter Jejuni in Human Fecal Specimens
Published on: March 10, 2020
Campylobacter diarrhea in Alexandria, Egypt
G Pazzaglia1, A L Bourgeois, A S Mourad
1Enterics Program, Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda MD, USA.
The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Campylobacter is a significant cause of bacterial diarrhea in young children in Alexandria, Egypt. This bacterium was more frequently found in ill children than in healthy ones, especially during the rainy season.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Public health epidemiology
Background:
- Bacterial diarrhea poses a significant health risk to young children globally.
- Understanding the specific causative agents is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Campylobacter as a bacterial cause of diarrhea in young children in Alexandria, Egypt.
- To compare the prevalence of Campylobacter with other bacterial pathogens in pediatric diarrhea cases.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted involving 880 children with diarrhea and 1,079 healthy children.
- Stool or rectal swab samples were collected for bacterial isolation and identification.
- Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of Campylobacter isolation rates.
Main Results:
- Campylobacter was isolated from 17.2% of children with diarrhea, significantly higher than the 6.4% isolation rate in healthy controls (p<0.0002).
- Campylobacter was the most frequently isolated bacterial pathogen, exceeding Salmonella (3%), Shigella (2%), and other bacteria (1%).
- Campylobacter isolation rates were significantly higher during the rainy season (p<0.0012).
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter is a major bacterial cause of diarrhea in young children seeking medical attention in Alexandria, Egypt.
- The findings highlight the importance of considering Campylobacter in the diagnosis and management of pediatric diarrhea in this region.
- Seasonal variations may influence the prevalence of Campylobacter infections in children.
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