Rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni in stool specimens by an enzyme immunoassay and surveillance for Campylobacter upsaliensis in the greater Salt Lake City area

The Alexon-Trend, Inc. (Ramsey, Minn,), ProSpecT Campylobacter microplate a ssay was compared with culture on a Campy-CVA plate (Remel, Lenexa, Kans,) and blood-free campylobacter agar with cefoperazone (20 mu g/ml), amphoteri cin B (10 mu g/ml), and teicoplanin (4 mu g/ml) (CAT medium; Oxoid Limited, Hampshire, England) with 631 patient stool samples. The CAT medium was use d to isolate Campylobacter upsaliensis. The enzyme immunoassay (EIA) had a sensitivity and a specificity of 89 and 99%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 80 and 99%, respectively. Even though we extensively looked for C, upsaliensis in stool samples from patients fro m the greater Salt Lake City area, we did not isolate this species during t he study period. The overall excellent specificity of the EIA allows rapid detection and treatment of positive patients; however, a negative result sh ould be confirmed by culture when clinical suspicion is high.