Antibiotic Susceptibility of Campylobacter Isolates from Sewage and Poultry Abattoir Drain Water

Abstract

Four sources appear to account for nearly all cases of campylobacteriosis: poultry meat products, raw milk, untreated surface water, and pets. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are single cases and related to the consumption of (undercooked) poultry meat. However, outbreaks are mostly related to consumption of raw milk or untreated surface water^1,6. Most of the Campylobacter infections are self limiting, but in some severe cases, treatment with antimicrobial agents is indicated. Erythromycin is still the drug of choice⁸ but nowadays fluoroquinolones are considered to be a good, safe but expensive alternative for the treatment of human Campylobacter enteritis⁴. However, the observed increase of quinolone (cross-)resistance of Campylobacter strains isolated from human stools, poultry and poultry products may have implications for the treatment of human diarrhoeal diseases.