Enrichment medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni-Campylobacter coli.

A kaseini-broth enrichment medium (KBEM) for the isolation improvement of Campylobacter jejuni-Campylobacter coli from stool samples is described. Isolation of Campylobacters from stool specimens by direct inoculation onto solid selective medium was compared with isolation after twenty-four hours enrichment at 37 degrees C in KBEM, followed by subculture onto the same solid selective medium. Of 156 examined stool samples from diarrhoeal children positive results were obtained from 17 patients altogether: 11 by direct inoculation on selective media and 6 only owing to enrichment. Thus, an increase of 35.3% in the isolation rate was obtained by using the enrichment medium. The same medium allows the preservation of isolates of Campylobacter jejuni-Campylobacter coli for 2 months and longer at 37 degrees C.