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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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
Pediatric campylobacteriosis in northern Taiwan from 2003 to 2005
Ji-Rong Yang1, Ho-Sheng Wu, Chuen-Sheue Chiang
1Research and Diagnostic Center, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan. ggyang@cdc.gov.tw
Insights
Campylobacter infections in Taiwanese children are common, particularly in winter. Most isolates were resistant to common antibiotics, but erythromycin showed promise for treatment.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Human Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli infections have increased globally.
- Taiwan's infectious disease control apparatus investigated pediatric Campylobacter infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Campylobacter isolates from infected children in Taiwan.
- To analyze patient demographics and epidemiological data.
Main Methods:
- Collected 894 fecal specimens from children with diarrhea.
- Performed Campylobacter isolation on selective media.
- Conducted drug susceptibility testing and serotyping.
Main Results:
- Campylobacter isolation rate was 6.8%, peaking in winter (11.1%).
- C. jejuni was the predominant species (95.1%).
- High resistance observed for tetracycline, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin; low resistance to erythromycin (3.3%).
Conclusions:
- Epidemiological analysis of Campylobacter infection in Taiwanese pediatric patients (2003-2005).
- Highlights seasonal trends, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and serotype distribution.
Background:
There has been a marked increase in the incidence of, and concern regarding, human Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli infections worldwide during the last decade. As the highest infectious disease control apparatus in Taiwan, we aimed to describe the character of Campylobacter isolates from infected children, as well as basic information about the patients, from December 2003 to February 2005.
Methods:
A total of 894 fecal specimens were collected by several clinics and hospitals from children who had diarrhea, followed by plating onto selective media. Drug susceptibility test of the isolates from these specimens were conducted by disc diffusion method and their serotypes were also studied using commercial antisera made in Japan.
Results:
The isolation rate of Campylobacter during these 15 months was 6.8% and was higher in winter (11.1%) than in other seasons. C. jejuni was the most prevalent (95.1%) species in northern Taiwan, comparable to other developed countries. Among the 61 Campylobacter isolates, most were resistant to tetracycline (93.4%), nalidixic acid (91.8%), ciprofloxacin (90.2%), and ampicillin (85.5%). Erythromycin-resistant isolates represented 3.3% of all isolates, suggesting that this drug may be the first choice for treatment. The serotypes of the 61 isolates were demonstrated and only 41.4% were typable.
Conclusion:
In this study, the Taiwan CDC provided an epidemiological analysis of Campylobacter infection, including the isolation rate, age, seasonal distribution, antimicrobial drug susceptibility patterns, and serotypes of the isolates from pediatric patients in northern Taiwan from 2003 to 2005.
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