Abstract:
Introduction: Diarrheal diseases are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among
children. Campylobacter species are one of the causative agents of bacterial gastrointestinal
infections. Thermotolerant Campylobacter species are responsible for most of Campylobacter
gastroenteritis cases among under-five children.
Objective: To determine the prevalence, associated risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility
pattern of Campylobacter species among under-five children with diarrhea at Jimma Medical
Center from January to April 2020.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among under-five children with
diarrhea. Stool samples were inoculated into Campylobacter agar medium and incubated at
42oC for 48 hrs. Isolation and identification was done using standard bacteriological methods.
Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done for isolated strains against selected antibiotics on
Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented by 10% sheep blood using disk diffusion method. Associated
risk factors were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results: A total of 214 under-five children with diarrhea were enrolled. The prevalence of
thermotolerant Campylobacter species was 8.9%. All isolates were sensitive to gentamycin and
azithromycin. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that under-five children whose
mothers/caretakers do not wash their hand with soap and water before preparing food for a
child [AOR: 3.7, 95% CI: (1.2-10.8)], whose family had domestic animals [AOR: 3.6, 95% CI:
(1.0-12.7)] and those consumed raw dairy products [AOR: 4.5, 95% CI: (1.4-13.9)] had higher
odds of infection with Campylobacter species.
Conclusion: Campylobacter species were one of the common bacterial pathogens causing
diarrhea among under-five children. Azithromycin and gentamycin were the antibiotics to which
all isolates were found sensitive. Consumption of raw dairy products, absence of
maternal/caretakers’ routine handwashing with soap and water before preparing child food, and
the presence of domestic animals in the household were the associated risk factors. This
indicates as hygiene and sanitary activities are important factors to be considered to reduce
infection with Campylobacter species.
