Campylobacter Infections: DBMD

Article title: Campylobacter Infections: DBMD

Conditions: Campylobacter

Source: DBMD

   

Clinical Features	Fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea (often bloody). Illness typically lasts one week.
Etiologic Agent	Campylobacter, a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium. Virtually all human illness is caused by one species, Campylobacter jejuni, but 1% are caused by other species.
Incidence	Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal illness. Incidence is about 20 cases per 100,000 population diagnosed in the United States. An estimated 2.4 million persons are affected each year.
Sequelae	An estimated 124 fatal cases each year. Can cause life-threatening sepsis in persons with compromised immune systems. Approximately 1 in 1000 diagnosed infections lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a paralysis that lasts several weeks and usually requires intensive care.
Transmission	Contaminated food (particularly poultry), water, or contact with infected animals (particularly cats and puppies).
Risk Groups	All age groups. Infants and young adults are particularly likely to be infected.
Surveillance	National surveillance is conducted through the Public Health Laboratory Information System (PHLIS). Active laboratory- and population-based surveillance is conducted in FoodNet sites. Surveillance for resistance to antimicrobial agents is conducted through the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS).
Trends	Most cases are isolated, or sporadic events, not part of outbreaks; 80% of poultry for human consumption is contaminated with Campylobacter. In 2000, 14% of human Campylobacter infections were due to fluoroquinolone-resistant organisms.
Challenges	Detecting outbreaks. Determining the fraction of cases related to poultry. Decreasing the contamination of poultry meat. Consumer education. Reducing the development of resistant strains. Identifying sources and syndromes associated with campylobacters other than jejuni. Preventing the sale of raw milk.
Opportunities	Improving detection of dispersed outbreaks through molecular subtyping. Determining risk-factors for sporadic illness, for Guillain-Barré syndrome, and for resistant infections.
	December 2001

 
 
 

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