The isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from contaminated surfaces and its survival in diluents.

The isolation rates of campylobacters from contaminated surfaces were improved if swabs were placed directly into selective media rather than being stored in diluents before culture. Storage in diluents resulted in a loss of viability and the remaining viable campylobacter cells were often sub-lethally injured which sensitised them to selective agents in culture media and reduced isolation rates. Campylobacter jejuni, suspended in small drops of blood, was capable of prolonged survival on work surfaces if the drops remained liquid but the bacterium died rapidly once drops had dried.