학술논문

Campylobacter infection in children and adults in Bulgaria: comparative characteristics and antimicrobial resistance
Document Type
article
Source
Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, Vol 36, Iss 1, Pp 292-298 (2022)
Subject
Campylobacter
diarrhoea
oldest adults
tetracycline
ciprofloxacin
Biotechnology
TP248.13-248.65
Language
English
ISSN
13102818
1314-3530
1310-2818
Abstract
AbstractCampylobacter infection is a serious health problem worldwide. There is still insufficient information in Bulgaria about the spread and course of the infection. Data on campylobacteriosis in adults are particularly scarce. In our study, we performed a comparative analysis in patients in different age groups, including the resistance of isolated strains. In the period 2018-2020, a total of 1,120 patients hospitalised with acute diarrhoea syndrome, aged 0-97 years, were studied, and a total of 1,120 faecal samples were examined by culture techniques and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antimicrobial resistance of some of the isolates was determined. A total of 385 (34.37%) isolates belonged to Campylobacter spp.: 340 (88.31%) to Campylobacter jejuni and 45 (11.68%) C. coli, respectively. The highest incidence was observed in the youngest (< 5 years of age) and the oldest (≥ 65 years of age) patients. Elderly adults are most likely to present with poor and non-specific symptoms despite the severe course of the infection. We observed severe antimicrobial resistance to tetracycline in both young children and older adults (about 40%). In older adults, we observed high resistance to ciprofloxacin. Regarding the C. jejuni strains, the resistance was 19.07% in the youngest, but it reached 59.15% in older adults. The mimicry of the symptoms in older adults can be misleading for the clinician with regard both to the diagnosis and the severity of the infection.