ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CAMPYLOBACTER ISOLATES FROM SEWAGE AND POULTRY ABATTOIR DRAIN WATER

In this study, the in vitro susceptibility of 209 campylobacter strain s to the quinolones nalidixic acid, flumequine, ciprofloxacin, enroflo xacin, and to ampicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin was tested by the disk diffusion method. The strains were isolated from poultry abat toir effluent (DWA) and two sewage purification plants (SPA and SPB). Sewage purification plant SPA received mixed sewage, including that fr om a poultry abattoir, whereas SPB did not receive sewage from any mea t-processing industry. The quinolone resistance of the DWA isolates ra nged from 28% for enrofloxacin to 50% for nalidixic acid. The strains isolated from tile sewage purification plants were more susceptible to the quinolones with a range of 11-18% quinolone resistance for SPB is olates to 17-33% quinolone resistance for SPA isolates. The susceptibi lity criteria as recommended by National Committee Clinical Laboratory Standards (USA) cannot readily be employed for campylobacter isolates . This investigation shows that the resistance of campylobacter bacter ia is highest in the plant receiving sewage from a poultry slaughterho use. Monitoring of antibiotic resistance of aquatic Campylobacter spp. is important. as surface waters are recognized as possible sources of infection.