SELECTIVE MEDIUM FOR THERMOPHILIC CAMPYLOBACTERS INCLUDING CAMPYLOBACTER-UPSALIENSIS

Aims-To develop a selective supplement for the recovery of thermophili c Campylobacter spp, including Campylobacter upsaliensis from faeces, using campylobacter blood free selective agar base as the growth mediu m. Methods-Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefoperazone an d of teicoplanin were determined for 51 strains of C upsaliensis, 159 strains of other thermophilic Campylobacter spp, and for 66 Enterobact eriaceae (cefoperazone only). From these results a medium using campyl obacter blood free selective agar base incorporating cefoperazone (8 m g/l), amphotericin (10 mg/l), and teicoplanin (4 mg/l)-CAT medium- was formulated and compared with the commercially available campylobacter blood free selective medium (modified CCDA) for isolation of Campylob acter spp from 7000 human faecal specimens. The two media were also co mpared for the recovery of C upsaliensis from 45 spiked human faeces. Results-Isolation rates of Campylobacter spp other than C upsaliensis were similar for both media, but the CAT medium alone recovered four o f the five strains of C upsaliensis from the faecal samples examined. From the spiked faeces specimens, recovery of C upsaliensis was increa sed by between 35% and over 200-fold on the CAT medium compared with t he modified CCDA. Conclusions-CAT selective agar was a suitable altern ative medium to modified CCDA for the growth of thermophilic Campyloba cter spp, including C upsaliensis from faeces.