CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI AS A CAUSE OF DIARRHOEA

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Diarrheal diseases represent a significant global health burden, necessitating accurate etiological diagnosis.
• Enteric bacterial infections, including those caused by Campylobacter jejuni, are common causes of gastroenteritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in patients with diarrhea.
• To identify other common enteropathogens, such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae, in the same patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Stool samples were collected from 220 patients diagnosed with diarrhea and 50 healthy individuals over a two-year period.
• Standard microbiological techniques were employed for the isolation and identification of Campylobacter jejuni.
• Simultaneous procedures were conducted to detect Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae.

Main Results:

• Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 10 (4.5%) of the 220 diarrheal stool samples.
• In the control group, Campylobacter jejuni was found in 1 (2%) of the 50 healthy individuals.
• Salmonella species were identified in 3.6% of cases, Shigella species in 1.8%, and Vibrio cholerae in 4.5%.
• One case presented co-infection with Shigella flexneri and Campylobacter jejuni.

Conclusions:

• Campylobacter jejuni is a relevant pathogen in diarrheal illness, although less prevalent than other investigated enteropathogens in this study population.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple bacterial agents in the differential diagnosis of infectious diarrhea.
• Co-infections with different enteric pathogens can occur, underscoring the complexity of diarrheal disease etiology.