Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni samples from patients referred to Semnan public health centers in 2007

Diarrhea is endemic to developing countries. Different microorganism including Campylobacter jejuni can cause diarrhea. The prevalence of infection with this organism and its significance as causative of diarrhea is underestimated. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Campylobacter jejuni in Semnan hygiene centers diarrheic referrals. stool samples (n=306) were collected by swabbing prior to antibiotic therapy of diarrheic patients. Samples were transferred to laboratory in Stuart medium. The swab was inoculated on Preston blood free campylobacter agar and incubated in 42ºC for 48 hrs. Suspected colonies were identified to species level using bacteriological tests. The Kirby-Bauer method was used to determine the susceptibilityof isolates to different antimicrobial agents.. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 38 cases (12.4%). The most effective antibiotic was gentamycin (97.4%). Resistance to cotrimoxazole was the most (52.7%). The prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in this study is higher than other studies in Iran.Campylobacter jejuni should be considered as important causative of diarrhea in Semnan province.