Characteristics Of Campylobacter Infections

Campylobacter infections, also known as campylobacteriosis, are the most common cause of diarrhea worldwide and are responsible for up to 14% of these cases, according to studies.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates  that foodborne illnesses – including campylobacteriosis – affect one in ten people worldwide at any given time.

Obviously, keeping the bacteria that cause these diseases away is not just a matter of hygiene. It can save many lives in the long run, especially in countries with poor health systems. Read on, because today’s article will talk about infections with campylobacter in detail.

What are campylobacter infections?

First, we want to emphasize that the name, campylobacter, does not refer to a single bacterial species, but to a genus in the form of a bacterium that involves at least twelve species that can cause disease in humans. The most common of them all is C. jejuni and it causes up to 90% of infections.

This pathogen is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the United States. According to estimates, it affects about 2.4 million people in the country each year. There were more than 29 epidemiological outbreaks between 2013 and 2017.  These data explain, of course, why infections with campylobacter are on the agenda.

Causes of infections with campylobacter

Generally, this infection is caused by eating unpasteurized milk or raw meat, especially poultry. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), ingestion of as little as 500 oral pathogenic cells can lead to infection in a person.

The Campylobacter bacterium invades cells in the small intestine by using a mechanism similar to salmonella,  causing them damage and altering the uptake of fluid. This causes the characteristic medical condition that we will talk about below.

The primary sources of infection are:

• First, it is through the consumption of unprocessed meat products, primarily poultry.
• Through intake of unpasteurized milk.
• Due to the presence of bacteria in untreated water.
• As the latter, it may be due to contact with infected pets or pets.

Primary symptoms

The most common symptom of infections with campylobacter is diarrhea – sometimes with blood in it.  It usually occurs between two and five days after contact with the bacterium, and usually stops on its own after six days. There are other symptoms such as:

• Cramps and pain in the abdomen.
• Fever and fatigue.
• Nausea and vomiting.

However, some infected patients never develop obvious symptoms, according to the US National Library of Medicine. In addition, deaths caused by campylobacteriosis are quite rare. It is primarily deaths in young babies, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems such as people with HIV.

Diagnosis

It is easy to make a diagnosis when the symptoms are present. Professionals collect a stool sample and identify the isolated bacterium that causes imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract. There are also other faster forms of testing that can identify the microorganism.

Options for treating campylobacter infections

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections with campylobacter usually get better on their own within three to six days after the first symptoms appear. However, a large intake of fluid is still recommended to replace the electrolytes lost through diarrhea.

Drugs are not necessary in most cases because an excessive intake can lead to the occurrence of resistant strains. Self-medication is therefore not recommended and antibiotics are prescribed only for the most severe cases.

How can these infections be prevented?

As with most foodborne illnesses, proper food handling is the best form of contraception. The CDC also shares some measures to consider:

• Wash your hands before handling food, or after touching a possible source of infection, whether it is an infected person or animal.
• Cut raw fruits and vegetables and meat on different cutting boards.

• Prepare all foods of animal origin, whether frozen or not.
• Always drink pasteurized milk and juice.
• Under no circumstances should you drink untreated water.

Final considerations

As you can see, infections with campylobacter are the leading cause of diarrhea worldwide, and C. jejuni is the most prevalent worldwide. Most of the epidemiological outbreaks occur due to the intake of raw meat, unpasteurized milk and untreated water.

The best course of action to combat campylobacteriosis is to eat hygienic foods that are cooked properly. This does not mean mixing ingredients of animal and vegetable origin, always cooking meat at high temperatures before consuming them, and of course washing hands before and after cooking.