Campylobacteriosis
What is campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacter infection causes an intestinal illness referred to as campylobacteriosis. Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial intestinal illness in the U.S. and while cases are reported year-round, infections are more common in the summer months. Campylobacter bacteria commonly live in poultry (e.g., chickens, turkeys) and cattle but can also be found in puppies, kittens, birds, and other animals.
Signs and symptoms
- Diarrhea (that can be bloody)
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Malaise
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Incubation Period
One to 10 days (usually two to five days)
Contagious period and spread
People ill with Campylobacter shed bacteria in their feces (stool). Campylobacter is spread through the fecal→oral route. People can become ill with Campylobacter by drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized milk, eating contaminated food (e.g., raw or undercooked poultry, raw milk products), or coming into contact with animals that are infected (including pets and farm animals). Transmission can occur from person to person, but this is not common.
People are contagious as long as they have Campylobacter bacteria in their stool, but they are most contagious while having diarrhea. Without treatment, bacteria can typically be found in the stool for two to three weeks (and up to several weeks in some cases) and relapse of symptoms may occur. The contagious period is shortened with antibiotic treatment, but most people get better without antibiotics.
Public health reporting requirements
- Report cases of camplyobacteriosis to the state or local public health agency within four days of a suspected or confirmed diagnosis.
- Staff who become aware of illness should report the infection to the facility director or the school nurse.
- If other children or staff are ill with diarrhea, refer them to their health care providers and contact public health as soon as possible as this could be an outbreak. Generally speaking, it is considered an outbreak if there is an increase in the number of ill children and/or staff members at the school or child care center.
Control of spread
- Please consult with local or state public health on implementation of control measures.
- Encourage and teach the importance of frequent handwashing, especially after animal contact, using the toilet, changing diapers, and before eating. Sample signs showing when and how to wash hands are included on the department’s child care regulation webpage under “Preventing illness” and in the hand hygiene section of the introduction section. Post them or similar signs throughout the child care center or school to remind people to wash their hands.
- Promptly sanitize contaminated surfaces (like diaper changing areas) and other commonly touched surfaces (like toys), and discard food or water if it is thought to be contaminated. (Disease Prevention: The Facility Environment)
Refer to Disease Prevention: Food Safety for information on food safety. - Alert possibly exposed family and staff members to watch for symptoms and provide them with prevention tips. See recommendations for caregivers and the family section below.
Treatment
Treatment with antibiotics shortens the duration of the illness and bacterial shedding and prevents relapse when given early in the infection. Some types of antibiotics may not work for some types of Campylobacter. When antibiotics are necessary, healthcare providers can use laboratory tests to help determine which type of antibiotics will likely be effective.
Exclusion
Child care:
- EXCLUDE all infected children and/or caregivers until at least 24 hours after diarrhea has resolved without the use of anti-diarrheal medications.
- Ill children should not go to another facility during the period of exclusion.
Primary and secondary school:
- EXCLUDE all infected children and/or staff with symptoms until at least 24 hours after diarrhea has resolved.
- In general, students or staff with campylobacteriosis who do not have diarrhea and are not otherwise sick may remain in school.
- In rare circumstances, public health may require additional testing before a person with infection can return to work, school, or child care.
- EXCLUDE affected individuals from food preparation until at least 24 hours after their diarrhea has resolved, or they are cleared by the state or local public health agency.
Role of teachers, caregivers, and family
- If your child or a child you care for is infected with Campylobacter, follow the advice of the child’s health care provider.
- Although person-to-person transmission is uncommon, it is important to practice good handwashing, especially after changing diapers, going to the bathroom/helping a child go to the bathroom, or handling food. Diapering, bathroom, and food preparation areas should be cleaned and disinfected frequently. It is also important to wash hands after touching pets or other animals as they can carry Campylobacter.
- Keep food that will be eaten raw, such as vegetables, from becoming contaminated by raw animal-derived food products, thoroughly cook all food products from animals, especially poultry, and avoid consuming unpasteurized milk, or other unpasteurized products.