Sporadic campylobacter infection in infants: a population-based surveillance case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Campylobacter is an important cause of foodborne illness in infants (younger than 1 year of age), but little is known about the sources of infection in this age group.


METHODS
Eight sites in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) participated in a 24-month population-based case-control study conducted in 2002-2004. Cases were infants with laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter infection ascertained through active laboratory surveillance, and controls were infants in the community.


RESULTS
We enrolled 123 cases and 928 controls. Infants 0-6 months of age with Campylobacter infection were less likely to be breast-fed than controls [odds ratio (OR); 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1-0.6]. Risk factors for infants 0-6 months of age included drinking well water (OR 4.4; CI, 1.4-14) and riding in a shopping cart next to meat or poultry (OR 4.0; CI, 1.2-13.0). Risk factors for infants 7-11 months of age included visiting or living on a farm (OR 6.2; CI, 2.2-17), having a pet with diarrhea in the home (OR 7.6; CI, 2.1-28) and eating fruits and vegetables prepared in the home (OR 2.5, CI 1.2-4.9). Campylobacter infection was associated with travel outside the United States at all ages (OR 19.3; CI, 4.5-82.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Several unique protective and risk factors were identified among infants, and these risk factors vary by age, suggesting that prevention measures be targeted accordingly. Breast-feeding was protective for the youngest infants and should continue to be encouraged.
Fullerton
Kathleen E
KE
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. kfullerton@cdc.gov
Ingram
L Amanda
LA
Jones
Timothy F
TF
Anderson
Bridget J
BJ
McCarthy
Patrick V
PV
Hurd
Sharon
S
Shiferaw
Beletshachew
B
Vugia
Duc
D
Haubert
Nicole
N
Hayes
Tameka
T
Wedel
Stephanie
S
Scallan
Elaine
E
Henao
Olga
O
Angulo
Frederick J
FJ
D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors