Campylobacter Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Campylobacter, including details on food poisoning, infection, symptoms, treatment.

Age-specific risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infection in regional Australia.

Unicomb LE, Dalton CB, Gilbert GL, Becker NG, Patel MS

OzFoodNet, Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. leanne.unicomb@anu.edu.au

In a case-control study in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, 354 cases and 593 controls were recruited to investigate meat, other food, and environmental exposures as potential risk factors for domestically acquired Campylobacter illness. In a multivariable model, illness was significantly associated with household exposure to diarrheal illness, consumption of restaurant chicken or beef, eating two or more "fast" food meals in a week, and overseas travel. Comparing exposures for the 0- to 4-year and 5-year and older age groups allowed detection of additional risk factors. Eating restaurant-prepared red meat and swimming were significantly associated with Campylobacter illness in the older group only. These findings demonstrate age-specific differences in risk factors for campylobacteriosis.

Published 11 February 2008 in Foodborne Pathog Dis, 5(1): 79-85.
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