Epidemiologic characteristics and drug resistance of Campylobacter in Zhuzhou, Hunan, 2016–2018

ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiologic characteristics and drug resistance of Campylobacter in Zhuzhou of Hunan province.

MethodsEpidemiologic investigation was conducted in diarrhea cases and children without diarrhea in Zhuzhou from July 2016 to June 2018, and their stool samples were collected. The stool samples were used for the isolation of Campylobacter. The isolated Campylobacter strains were tested for drug susceptibility.

ResultsA total of 450 cases were surveyed. The detection rate of Campylobacter was 6.44% (29/450). The detection rate in children without diarrhea was 1.00% (1/100), and the detection rate in diarrhea cases was 8.00% (28/350). The clinical symptoms of Campylobacter infection were diarrhea, abdominal pain, mucus stool, and the stool microscopic examination results were mainly characterized by the detections of erythrocyte and leukocyte. The detection rate in age group 5– years was 19.44% (7/36). The infection cases were mainly students 17.65% (6/34). There was no significant difference in the detection rate between man and woman (χ²＝1.354, P＝0.245). The detection rate of Campylobacter was higher in spring and autumn than in summer and winter. In the 29 strains, 24 were Campylobacter jejuni and 5 were C. colon. In the 29 strains, 41.38% were multidrug resistant. The resistant rates to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, tetracyvline were 96.15%, 88.46% and 76.92%, respectively.

ConclusionCampylobacter has become one of the important pathogens causing diarrhea in Zhuzhou, and it showed serious drug resistance and multi-drug resistance, to which the monitoring and control measures should be strengthened.