Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter coli clinical isolates

Introduction: Campylobacter spp. is a major cause of acute bacterial diarrhea in humans worldwide, and C. coli is responsible for 10% of the cases. Materials and methods: A study was made of the antimicrobial susceptibility using the E-test ® , and the clonal relationship using PCR-RFLP, of the flaA gene, as well as PFGE techniques on 43 C. coli clinical isolates. Results: Only 49% and 2% of the isolates were susceptible to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Imipenem and clindamyicn, with 100% and 84% of the strains, respectively, being susceptible, were the most active antimicrobials. The PCR-RFLP of flaA gene technique grouped fourteen isolates into six clusters, while the PFGE technique grouped eleven isolates into five clusters. Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin and erythromycin are not suitable for the treatment of C. coli infections. Clindamycin could be considered as a therapeutic alternative in cases of enteritis, while imipenem is the best