A case-case comparison of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni infection: a tool for generating hypotheses.
Preventing campylobacteriosis depends on a thorough understanding of its epidemiology. We used case-case analysis to compare cases of Campylobacter coli infection with cases of C. jejuni infection, to generate hypotheses for infection from standardized, population-based sentinel surveillance information in England and Wales. Persons with C. coli infection were more likely to have drunk bottled water than were those with C. jejuni infection and, in general, were more likely to have eaten pâté. Important differences in exposures were identified for these two Campylobacter species. Exposures that are a risk for infection for both comparison groups might not be identified or might be underestimated by case-case analysis. Similarly, the magnitude or direction of population risk cannot be assessed accurately. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that case-control studies should be conducted at the species level.
Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Iain A
IA
Gillespie
Sarah J
SJ
O'Brien
Jennifer A
JA
Frost
Goutam K
GK
Adak
Peter
P
Horby
Anthony V
AV
Swan
Michael J
MJ
Painter
Keith R
KR
Neal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015982:Bias; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000382:microbiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014195:Travel; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
D008900:Mineral Waters