An appraisal of the efficacy of pre-enrichment for the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from water and food.

Cells of Campylobacter jejuni exposed to heating or freezing were progressively less able to grow at 43 degrees C, particularly on selective media. This influenced the recovery of damaged cells from naturally and artificially contaminated samples. With broth culture the isolation rate could be increased by pre-enrichment in basal or selective media at 37 degrees C for 4 h. With membrane filtration or surface plating techniques the inclusion of agents that quench toxic derivatives of oxygen was more important.