ABSTRACT
The isolation of Campylobacter. jejuni from feces is a fairly simple procedure which can be done by most hospital laboratories. Campylobacter. jejuni can be isolated from fecal specimens if both selective media that reduce the growth of competing microorganisms and microaerophilic inoculation conditions are used. Routine processing of rectal swabs or stool specimens can include direct inoculation of the specimens onto a selective medium and/or indirect inoculation into Campy-Thio with subsequent subculture to a selective medium after overnight refrigeration. The atmosphere for incubation should always contain 5% oxygen and 10% carbon dioxide to satisfy the microaerophilic and capnophilic nature of Campylobacter. jejuni. A strain of Providencia rettgeri that was resistant to the selective agents used in Campylobacter selective medium was placed on one half of the selective agar and a fecal sample was streaked on the other half. Campylobacter can be seen as slender, Gram-negative, spiral or S-shaped organisms with tapering ends.
