title: Risk Factors for Sporadic Infection With Campylobacter Spp. Among Children in Israel: A Case-control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Campylobacter spp. has been identified as one of the leading causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. In recent years, an increase in the incidence of campylobacteriosis in several countries, including Israel, was demonstrated. The incidence rate of campylobacteriosis in Israel increased from 22.3 per 100,000 in 1997 to 77.4 per 100,000 in 2009. The aim of this study was to explore risk factors for sporadic infection with Campylobacter among young children in Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  A matched case-control study was performed to investigate risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infection among 113 affected children of 1-5 years of age and 113 age-matched, gender-matched and neighborhood-matched controls. Information about exposure to potential risk factors was obtained via telephone interview and was evaluated by conditional logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the multivariable model, for each additional chicken meal consumed during the week before the onset of illness, the odds for Campylobacter infection increased by 32% [adjusted matched odds ratios (aMOR): 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.72; P = 0.04], whereas consumption of fruits and vegetables decreased the odds for Campylobacter infection by 97% (aMOR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.00-0.28; P < 0.01), and for each additional child living in the household, the odds for infection decreased by 48% (aMOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33-0.83; P < 0.01). Using diaper increased the odds for campylobacteriosis (aMOR: 7.36; 95% CI: 1.66-32.70; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions that focus on proper handling of chicken and chicken products, hand washing and encouraging consumption of fruits and vegetables could help in controlling Campylobacter infections.
authors.affiliation: From the *Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Tel Hashomer, Israel; †Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Israel; ‡Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel; §Central Laboratory, Maccabi Health Services, Rehovot, Israel; and ¶Central Laboratory, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. Both R.B. and A.O contributed equally to this work.
authors.forename: Ravit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bassal
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ovadia
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bromberg
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Bracha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shainberg
authors.forename: Shulamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loewenthal
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somekh
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Tamy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shohat
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002167:Campylobacter; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents