REPORTINGCampylobacteriosis
 |
Common Cause
of
Diarrhea |
What is Campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States. Large outbreaks are rare. Most cases are isolated and occur sporadically.
How do people get infected with campylobacter?
Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items. Infants may get the infection by contact with poultry packages in shopping carts. Outbreaks of Campylobacter are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. Animals can also be infected, and some people have acquired their infection from contact with the stool of an ill dog or cat. The organism is not usually spread from one person to another, but this can happen if the infected person is producing a large volume of diarrhea.
A very small number of Campylobacter organisms (fewer than 500) can cause illness in humans. Even one drop of juice from raw chicken meat can infect a person. One way to become infected is to cut poultry meat on a cutting board, and then use the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other raw or lightly cooked foods. The Campylobacter organisms from the raw meat can thus spread to the other foods.
How common is it?
For every 100,000 people, about 15 cases of campylobacteriosis are diagnosed each year. Many more cases go undiagnosed or unreported. Campylobacteriosis is estimated to affect more than 1 million people each year or 0.5 percent of the general population. Although campylobacter doesn't commonly cause death, it is estimated that about 124 persons with campylobacteriosis died each year.
When does it occur?
Campylobacteriosis occurs most frequently in the summer months.
Who is most at risk?
Campylobacter is found in infants and young adults more frequently than in other age groups and in males more than females.
What are the symptoms of Campybacteriosis?
Symptoms include diarrhea, frequently with bloody stools, abdominal pain, malaise, fever, nausea and/or vomiting. Symptoms usually occur 2-5 days after exposure and may persist for a week. Many infections are asymptomatic. The illness can be life-threatening for people with compromised immune systems. People are contagious as long as they are infected with campylobacter. The illness typically lasts one week.
How do people prevent infection?
- Cook all poultry products thoroughly. Make sure the meat is cooked throughout, juices run clear and the inside is cooked to 170 degrees for breast meat and 180 degrees for dark meat.
- If served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.
- Wash your hands with soap before and after handling raw meat.
- Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk and untreated surface water.
- Make sure that persons with diarrhea, particularly children, wash their hands carefully and frequently with soap to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
- Wash hands with soap after having contact with pet feces.
How is campylobacteriosis treated?
People recover with no specific treatment. Patients should drink plenty of fluids while the diarrhea lasts. In severe cases, doctor-prescribed antibiotics may be used.