Laboratory and clinical evaluation of isolation media for Campylobacter jejuni

Six selective isolation media were evaluated for their ability to support the growth of Campylobacter jejuni. Colony counts of 70 isolated strains of C. jejuni and recovery studies on these strains in simulated positive feces samples demonstrated that Bolton and Hutchinson' charcoal, cefoperazone, deoxycholate agar and Karmali's charcoal-based selective medium produced the highest recovery rates with the greatest suppression of other fecal flora. C. jejuni colonies were more easily recognized on charcoal-based selective medium. A clinical evaluation performed on 2,780 human, animal, and avian feces specimens confirmed the results of the laboratory investigation. From human samples, 4 more strains of C. jejuni were isolated on charcoal-based selective medium than were isolated on Skirrow medium, and 19 more strains of C. jejuni or C. coli were isolated on charcoal-based selective medium from animal specimens. Suppression of normal fecal flora was also greater on charcoal-based selective medium.