| 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, sporadic
events, not part of outbreaks; most 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 2003
|
