Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter: Susceptibility testing methods and resistance trends

• Published in: Journal of microbiological methods 2013-10, Vol.95 (1), p.57-67
• Main Authors: Ge, Beilei, Wang, Fei, Sjölund-Karlsson, Maria, McDermott, Patrick F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibiotic resistance; Antimicrobial resistance; Campylobacter; Campylobacter - drug effects; Campylobacter - isolation & purification; Campylobacter jejuni; campylobacteriosis; ciprofloxacin; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; erythromycin; Food Microbiology; gentamicin; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods; minimum inhibitory concentration; Molecular; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods; monitoring; polymerase chain reaction; public health; sequence analysis; Susceptibility testing; tetracycline; therapeutics; Trend
• ISSN: 0167-7012; 1872-8359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2013.06.021

Most Campylobacter infections are self-limiting but antimicrobial treatment (e.g., macrolides, fluoroquinolones) is necessary in severe or prolonged cases. Susceptibility testing continues to play a critical role in guiding therapy and epidemiological monitoring of resistance. The methods of choice for Campylobacter recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) are agar dilution and broth microdilution, while a disk diffusion method was recently standardized by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Macrolides, quinolones, and tetracyclines are among the common antimicrobials recommended for testing. Molecular determination of Campylobacter resistance via DNA sequencing or PCR-based methods has been performed. High levels of resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin are frequently reported by many national surveillance programs, but resistance to erythromycin and gentamicin in Campylobacter jejuni remains low. Nonetheless, variations in susceptibility observed over time underscore the need for continued public health monitoring of Campylobacter resistance from humans, animals, and food. •Dilution methods remain the first choice for Campylobacter susceptibility testing.•EUCAST recently standardized a disk diffusion methodology for Campylobacter.•Methods for molecular determination of Campylobacter resistance are available.•High-level resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin is frequently reported.•Resistance to erythromycin and gentamicin in Campylobacter jejuni remains low.