Intestinal occurrence of Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni and Clostridium difficile in children in Sweden

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Culture Methods to Determine the Limit of Detection and Survival in Transport Media of Campylobacter Jejuni in Human Fecal Specimens
08:23

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

A Svedhem, B Kaijser, I MacDowall

    European Journal of Clinical Microbiology
    |February 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Campylobacter jejuni is rarely found in Swedish children with diarrhea, unlike Clostridium difficile, which is common in healthy infants and considered normal flora.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Pediatrics
    • Gastroenterology

    Background:

    • Investigating the prevalence of enteric pathogens in pediatric populations is crucial for understanding childhood gastrointestinal illnesses.
    • Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium difficile are significant causes of diarrhea in various age groups, necessitating accurate diagnostic and epidemiological data.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium difficile in stool samples from children aged 0-6 years in Sweden.
    • To assess the association of these bacteria with diarrhea and antibiotic treatment in pediatric patients.

    Main Methods:

    • Stool samples were collected from 356 children across different health statuses and age groups (birth to six years).
    • Bacterial cultures were performed to isolate and identify Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium difficile.

    Main Results:

    • Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 2 of 56 children with diarrhea, but not from healthy children or those recently treated with antibiotics.
    • Clostridium difficile was isolated from 17% of healthy children aged 1 week to 1 year and 1% of perinatal children.
    • Similar isolation rates for Clostridium difficile were observed in children with diarrhea and those treated with antibiotics, with most isolates (29/34) from infants under one year old.

    Conclusions:

    • Campylobacter jejuni is not a common cause of diarrhea in Swedish children and is not part of the normal fecal flora.
    • Clostridium difficile is frequently found in the stools of healthy infants and should generally be considered a normal finding in children.

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