Campylobacter enteritis (ICD-10-GM A04.5: Enteritis due to Campylobacter) refers to inflammation of the small intestine caused by pathogens of the gram-negative genus Campylobacter. For humans, the species Campylobacter jejuni (90%), C. coli (10%) are of primary importance. Infections with C. lari and C. fetus subspecies fetus are described only very rarely.
Campylobacter enteritis is the most common foodborne diarrheal disease. It is followed only by Salmonella infections.
The disease belongs to the bacterial zoonoses (animal diseases).
Many wild and domestic animals are the reservoir of the pathogen. The pathogens can survive in the environment for extended periods of time, especially in cool environments, but cannot multiply outside the host.
Occurrence: The infection is widespread throughout the world.
Seasonal accumulation of the disease: Campylobacter enteritis occurs more frequently during the warm season (June to September).
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs predominantly via food, mostly contaminated poultry meat (esp. chicken meat; but also chicken eggs). Transmission is also possible via unpasteurized milk (raw milk), drinking water, raw minced meat, but also via pets (suffering from diarrhea).
The pathogen enters the body enterally (the pathogen enters through the intestine or bacteria as feces enter the body through the mouth), i.e. it is a fecal-oral infection.
Human-to-human transmission: Yes.
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually 2-5 days, but may be up to ten days in individual cases.
The duration of the disease is usually up to 1 week.
Sex ratio: Men and women are equally affected.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) is approximately 87 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year.
The duration of infectivity (contagiousness) persists for up to four weeks after the end of symptoms. This corresponds to the average duration of excretion.
Course and prognosis: Campylobacter enteritis normally has an uncomplicated course and subsides after an average of 7 days. Campylobacter infection due to Campylobacter fetus, however, has a severe course. The recurrence rate (recurrence of the disease) is 10%.
In Germany, Campylobacter enteritis is notifiable according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) if an acute infection is suspected. Suspicion of the disease is further subject to notification if the affected person performs an activity according to § 42 IfSG. The notification must be made to the public health department.
