Impact of changing from staining to culture techniques on detection rates of Campylobacter spp. in routine stool samples in Chile. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Porte, Lorena; Varela, Carmen; Haecker, Thomas; Morales, Sara; Weitzel, Thomas
• Is Part Of: BMC infectious diseases. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Campylobacter -- Diagnosis -- Culture media -- Staining methods; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Sexually Transmitted Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1546-7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2334

Abstract

Abstract Background Campylobacter is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, but sensitive diagnostic methods such as culture are expensive and often not available in resource limited settings. Therefore, direct staining techniques have been developed as a practical and economical alternative. We analyzed the impact of replacingCampylobacter staining with culture for routine stool examinations in a private hospital in Chile. Methods From January to April 2014, a total of 750 consecutive stool samples were examined in parallel by Hucker stain andCampylobacter culture. Isolation rates ofCampylobacter were determined and the performance of staining was evaluated against culture as the gold standard. Besides, isolation rates ofCampylobacter and other enteric pathogens were compared to those of past years. Results Campylobacter was isolated by culture in 46 of 750 (6.1 %) stool samples. Direct staining only identified three samples asCampylobacter positive and reached sensitivity and specificity values of 6.5 and 100 %, respectively. In comparison to staining-based detection rates of previous years, we observed a significant increase ofCampylobacter cases in our patients. Conclusion Direct staining technique forCampylobacter had a very low sensitivity compared to culture. Staining methods might lead to a high rate of false negative results and an underestimation of the importance of campylobacteriosis. With the inclusion ofCampylobacter culture, this pathogen became a leading cause of intestinal infection in our patient population.