Thermophilic Campylobacters in patients with urinary tract infections

Urine samples (500 in toto) from patients with urinary tract infection attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, between June 1991 and May 1992 were specifically screened for Campylobacter species. Fifteen (3.0%) out of 500 of the specimens were positive by the Gram staining method, while five (1.0%) of the specimens were positive by culture. All the five isolates were identified as Campylobacter coil and serotypes 36 and 53 were prevalent. Isolates were susceptible to erythromycin, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and streptomycin, while many strains were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin. It is suggested that nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and erythromycin should be used for the treatment of urinary tract infections due to Campylobacter species in this environment.