An enhanced technique combining pre-enrichment and passive filtration increases the isolation efficiency of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from water and animal fecal samples

► We compare membrane filtration of enriched water and fecal samples to streak plating. ► Similar isolation rates were observed with filtration/streak plating of enrichment broth. ► Similar Campylobacter diversity was observed between the different methods. ► Filtration of enriched samples yielded ~ 20 × fewer false-positives than streaking. ► We report efficient membrane isolation of C. jejuni/coli from water and fecal samples.