Risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter jejuni infections in rural michigan: a prospective case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
This case-control study investigated risk factors for campylobacteriosis in a rural population. Exposure to live farm animals was hypothesized to increase the risk for Campylobacter jejuni enteritis.


METHODS
Incident cases from rural counties reported to the Michigan Department of Community Health and matched controls completed a self-administered postal questionnaire.


RESULTS
Persons engaged in poultry husbandry had increased odds of campylobacteriosis (odds ratio = 6.884; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.438, 32.954). There was evidence for a dose-response relationship between the number of types of poultry contact and campylobacteriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
We estimate that 18% (95% CI = 6%, 30%) of Campylobacter cases occurring in rural populations are attributable to poultry husbandry. Cases occurred in individuals who were not poultry farmers by occupation.
Potter
Rachel Church
RC
Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823, USA.
Kaneene
John B
JB
Hall
William N
WN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011200:Poultry / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission*