A survey of enteric Campylobacter infections was performed in Bangui, Central African Republic, with a cohort of 127 children from birth to 6 months of age by biweekly culture of stools; 82 infections were observed, and 41.7% of the children presented at least 1 infection before 6 months of age. Only 15.9% of the infected children had a diarrheic syndrome; moreover, 61.5% of these diarrheic children had another enteropathogen associated with Campylobacter species. In about half the cases, Campylobacter spp. were excreted for more than 4 days. More than half of the children had at least one diarrheic episode, for which an enteropathogen was identified in one third of the cases, before 6 months of age.
PIP: Prospective surveillance of enteric Campylobacter infection from birth to 6 months of age was carried out in a cohort of infants delivered in a maternity ward in the Central African Republic city of Bangui. The purpose of the study was to define the factors explaining the existence of a large number of healthy carriers of enteric Campylobacter species in this region. 82 infections were observed in the cohort of 127 infants; 42% of the children presented with at least 1 infection before 6 months of age. Only 16% of the infected children had a diarrheic syndrome; moreover, 62% of these diarrheic children had another enteropathogen associated with Campylobacter infection. The median duration of prolonged elimination of the Campylobacter germ was 7-8 days in both asymptomatic and diarrheic infants. Isolation rates of Campylobacter were highest among children who were exclusively breastfed. 4 infants were infected with Campylobacter by the 3rd day of life and 11 were infected by 1 month of age. The number of observed infections was significantly higher in the 3-6 month age group than between 4-6 months of age. The early age and frequency of contact of children with Campylobacter species may explain the large number of healthy carriers observed among children 6-24 months of age in a previous etiologic investigation.