Campylobacter bacteria are a major cause of foodborne diarrhoeal illness in humans and are the most common bacteria that cause gastroenteritis worldwide. In developed and developing countries, they cause more cases of diarrhoea than foodborne Salmonella. The high incidence of Campylobacter diarrhoea, as well as its duration and possible sequelae, makes it highly important from a socio-economic perspective. In developing countries, Campylobacter infections in children under the age of two years are especially frequent, sometimes resulting in death.¹

The most common gastrointestinal infections in humans are caused by the Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli species.

Current screening for Campylobacter is a culture based method using a charcoal-based selective media or a blood containing media. These culture plates are incubated for up to 72 hours and their lack of selectivity allows for the growth of large amounts of flora. Therefore ISO (10272-1 :2006) requires the use of a second medium to palliate these deficiencies.

CHROMagar™ Campylobacter is a new chromogenic medium that is both selective and differential for the isolation of this enteric pathogen. This medium also requires incubation in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 42°C, however distinct red colonies of Campylobacter will grow after 24 hours and a negative report can be issued after 48 hours incubation rather than 72 hours.

This new CHROMagar™ Campylobacter medium can decrease the result turnaround time and therefore significantly improve patient diagnosis and workflow of both clinical and food testing laboratories.²

With CHROMagar™ Campylobacter, no compromises! This medium allies the highly specific and easy to read chromogenic technology with an unrivalled growth agar base.

Key Features and Benefits:

• EASY READING - 24-48h incubation at 42°C. The intense red colored colonies on a translucent agar facilitates the reading compared to charcoal based agar.
• HIGH RECOVERY RATE - ~100% Enumerating Campylobacter has never been so simple and so reliable.
• HIGHLY SELECTIVE - a reinforced selectivity allows for a very clean plate, even with heavily flora loaded samples

References:

1 - World Health Organisation (WHO) – fact sheet N°255 2 - Evaluation of CHROMagar Campylobacter (CAC) L. forsberg, C. Barth, K. Malejczyk, J. Minion - Regina Qu'Apelle Health Region, Regina SK. S4P 0W5 - Canada