Characterization and antibiotic sensitivity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from children at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria

One hundred and thirteen rectal swabs and 87 faecal samples obtained from the Paediatric casualty of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria were processed for Campylobacter jejuni/coli. Twenty-two (11%) of the specimens were positive for C. jejuni. Biotyping results showed that nine (41%) and eight (36%) belonged to C. jejuni biotypes I and II respectively, while three (14%) and two (9%) belonged to C. coli biotypes I and II. Serotyping results revealed that C. jejuni biotypes I and II and C. coli biotypes I and II belonged to different serotypes with serotypes A9 and A36 being the most prevalent. In-vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing using the disc method showed that 18 (82%) of the Campylobacter jejuni/coli isolates were sensitive to erythromycin and nalidixic acid, while 16 (73%) were sensitive to streptomycin. All were resistant to penicillin, while four (18%) and six (27%) were sensitive to tetracycline and cloxacillin respectively. We therefore recommend the use of erythromycin and streptomycin for cases of Campylobacter enteritis requiring antimicrobial therapy in Lagos, Nigeria.