Campylobacter species associated with diarrhoea in patients from a tertiary care centre of north India

Background & objectives: Most laboratories do not routinely distinguish the various Campylobacter species, though almost all Campylobacter species hav e been isolated from human faeces. The epidemiological and clinical aspects of its infection and the species involved in genesis of diarrhoea are leas t understood in the developing countries. The aim of the present study was to find out frequency of Campylobacter species isolated from patients with diarrhoea over a 12-year period and to analyse their features. Methods: Campylobacter strains isolated from stool samples of patients with diarrhoea were identified to the species level on appropriate media at 42 degreesC micro-aerobically. Patients' demography and clinical data were ana lyzed retrospectively; 25 Campylobacter jejuni strains were tested for toxi n production and 23 strains were typed by Penner scheme. Results: A total of 62 strains were isolated from 59 patients and the vario us species were C jejuni 51 (82.3%), C. coli 8 (12.9%), C. lari 2 (3.2%), a nd C. upsaliensis 1 (1.6%). Children < 5 yr of age were most affected (3415 9; 57.6%), followed by patients in 15-30 yr of age (12/59; 20.3%). Presenta tion of watery diarrhoea was significantly more common than inflammatory di arrhoea (50/59, 84.7% vs 9/59, 15.3%; P < 0.001). Recurrence occurred in 3 (5.1%) patients. Majority of the infections resolved within one week; one H IV-positive patient had chronic diarrhoea. Two patients developed Guillain- Barre syndrome following Campylobacter infection. Twenty (80%) of 25 strain s were toxigenic and 20 (87%) of 23 strains could be typed by Penner scheme . Interpretation & conclusion: In our patients, 4different Campylobacter spec ies and various C. jejuni serotypes were involved in gastroenteritis, Major ity of the infections were watery diarrhoea and iii children < 5 yr of age. There is a need of a population-based systematic study to know the epidemi ology of whole spectrum of campylobacters in India.