Comparison of two methods for isolating Campylobacter species in stool samples from children with diarrhea in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Objective: To compare the isolation capacity of Campylobacter species using the combined methodology versus the direct methodology in stool samples from children with diarrhea at the National Institute of Child Health in Lima, Peru, 2024. Materials and methods: Observational, comparative, and retrospective study. Two hundred stool samples from children with diarrhea were processed and cultured, by using a combined methodology and a direct methodology (selective medium culture) for the isolation of Campylobacter species. The data were analyzed using bivariate statistics. Results: The samples analyzed were predominantly from males (78%) and mainly from emergency services. Nine Campylobacter species were isolated, representing 35% of enteric pathogens. The proposed combined methodology achieved a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 99.5%. Interrupted Gram staining was also evaluated for the microscopic detection of Campylobacter, achieving a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 97.4%. The distributions of the isolated species were 7 (78%) for Campylobacter jejuni and 2 (22%) for Campylobacter coli. Conclusions: The use of the combined methodology performs well for the isolation of Campylobacter species, allowing a greater number of isolated colonies to be obtained that can satisfy identification and susceptibility testing requirements, without the need for subsequent re-isolation and the consequent delay in laboratory results.