TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of sporadic Campylobacter infections in Denmark
T2 - a nationwide case-control study among children and young adults
AU - Gaardbo Kuhn, Katrin
AU - Nielsen, Eva Møller
AU - Mølbak, Kåre
AU - Ethelberg, Steen
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Background: Each year more than 4,000 cases of campylobacteriosis are reported in Denmark, making it the most common bacterial gastrointestinal infection. Here we describe a case-control study to identify sources of infection with a focus on environmental factors. Methods: From January to December 2016, we conducted a prospective case-control study among Danish persons aged 1–30 years. Participants were invited by letter to complete an online questionnaire. Crude and adjusted ORs were calculated and final parsimonious multivariate models developed using logistic regression. Results: The study recruited 1366 cases and 4,418 controls, of whom 65% and 66%, respectively, completed the questionnaire. A multivariate model for domestically acquired cases showed, among others, increased risk of infection with bathing in fresh water (OR=5.1), contact to beach sand (OR=1.8), owning a pet dog with diarrhea (OR=4.6), and eating minced beef (OR=2.6) or chicken (OR=2.5). The model for children highlighted similar risk factors but also included bathing in a paddling pool (OR=13.6) and eating fresh strawberries (OR=5.3). A separate analysis for persons reporting foreign travel showed increased infection risk when traveling toAsia, Africa, or Turkey and that eating from street kitchens and having contact to water during traveling were also risk factors. Conclusion: Environmental factors and animal contact account for a sizeable proportion of domestic Campylobacter infections in the age group studied. The study also re-confirmed handling/consumption of chicken as an important risk factor while highlighting minced beef as a potential new risk factor. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the transmission dynamics of Campylobacter and will be used to improve national guidelines for prevention of infection.
AB - Background: Each year more than 4,000 cases of campylobacteriosis are reported in Denmark, making it the most common bacterial gastrointestinal infection. Here we describe a case-control study to identify sources of infection with a focus on environmental factors. Methods: From January to December 2016, we conducted a prospective case-control study among Danish persons aged 1–30 years. Participants were invited by letter to complete an online questionnaire. Crude and adjusted ORs were calculated and final parsimonious multivariate models developed using logistic regression. Results: The study recruited 1366 cases and 4,418 controls, of whom 65% and 66%, respectively, completed the questionnaire. A multivariate model for domestically acquired cases showed, among others, increased risk of infection with bathing in fresh water (OR=5.1), contact to beach sand (OR=1.8), owning a pet dog with diarrhea (OR=4.6), and eating minced beef (OR=2.6) or chicken (OR=2.5). The model for children highlighted similar risk factors but also included bathing in a paddling pool (OR=13.6) and eating fresh strawberries (OR=5.3). A separate analysis for persons reporting foreign travel showed increased infection risk when traveling toAsia, Africa, or Turkey and that eating from street kitchens and having contact to water during traveling were also risk factors. Conclusion: Environmental factors and animal contact account for a sizeable proportion of domestic Campylobacter infections in the age group studied. The study also re-confirmed handling/consumption of chicken as an important risk factor while highlighting minced beef as a potential new risk factor. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the transmission dynamics of Campylobacter and will be used to improve national guidelines for prevention of infection.
U2 - 10.2147/CLEP.S177141
DO - 10.2147/CLEP.S177141
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30538574
SN - 1179-1349
VL - 10
SP - 1695
EP - 1707
JO - Clinical Epidemiology
JF - Clinical Epidemiology
ER -
