Chicken consumption and use of acid-suppressing medications as risk factors for Campylobacter enteritis, England.
In a case-control study of Campylobacter spp. risk factors in England during 2005-2006, we identified recent consumption of commercially prepared chicken as an important risk factor. The risk for illness associated with recent chicken consumption was much lower for persons who regularly ate chicken than in those who did not, which suggests that partial immunologic protection may follow regular chicken preparation or consumption. Chicken-related risk factors accounted for 41% of cases; acid-suppressing medication, for 10%; self-reported past Campylobacter enteritis, 2%; and recent acquisition of a pet dog, 1%. Understanding the risks associated with chicken from different sources will benefit strategies to reduce Campylobacter infections. Better characterization of immune correlates for Campylobacter infection is necessary to assess the relative importance of immunity and behavioral factors in determining risk.
Tam
Clarence C
CC
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. clarence.tam@lshtm.ac.uk
Higgins
Craig D
CD
Neal
Keith R
KR
Rodrigues
Laura C
LC
Millership
Sally E
SE
O'Brien
Sarah J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002645:Chickens; D004285:Dogs; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000863:Antacids