Campylobacter jejuni and
you
Veronica Brock, Ph.D. student
Walden University
PUBH 8165-x
Instructor: Dr. Raymond Thron
Summer, 2012
This presentation focuses on methods to increase the
publics knowledge of campylobacter jejuni in the
community. It offers some suggestions on how to
prevent the spread of this bacteria. This presentation
is directed to the conventional consumer.
One of the most common causes of bacterial diarrhea
in the United States is Campylobacter, with over 2
million cases each year (Center for Disease Control,
2011).
 Campylobacter is now the leading cause human
gastroenteritis in many developing countries with
enteritis in humans caused mainly by Campylobacter
Jejuni (Hermans, et al., 2011). Three times more
infective than Salmonella.

Campylobacter jejuni (C jejuni) is accountable for
more than 90% of human campylobacteriosis
(Hwang, Jeon, Yun, & Ryu, 2011)
 Cause of travelers diarrhea Associated with enteric
illness

The leading cause of food poisoning in humans
 Gram negative bacteria s-shaped or spiral rods
 A polar tail at one or both ends

Most people who become infected with C. jejuni
develop fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramping
within three to five days of exposure (Center for
Disease Control, 2010). Stools may be bloody. The
course of the infection may last 7-10 days (Food
Safety.Gov).
 Headache, right lower abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, tenesmus

Although rare, studies have established a
relationship between Guillain-Barre syndrome
(GBS) and C. jejuni infection, which showed that
one-fourth to one-third of GBS patients developed
the syndrome after being infected (Yuki, et al.,
2004).
 Meningitis, recurrent colitis, acute cholecystitis are
also rare complications of C.jejuni infections (U.S.
Food and drug Administration, 2012) and


Death
Mode of transmission
C. Jejuni
Is
transmitted
through
Inadequately
cooked
poultry
Unpasteurized
milk
Untreated
water
Most cases are isolated sporadic events, caused by
eating raw or uncooked food, not as outbreaks
(Center for Disease Control, 2010)
 Which makes the most efficient route between
chance of exposure and case of exposure

YOU
EMERGING
RESISTANCE

Fluoroquinolone resistance is now recognized as an
emerging public health problem (Engberg, Aarestrup,
Taylor, Gerner-Smidt, & Nachamkin, 2001)

There is evidence that an acquired immunity has
been obtained from studies in industrialized
countries.

Resistance to colonization was seen in children in
developing countries accompanied by a shift in the
illness-to-infection ratio for children between 2-5
years of age.
THE BEST DEFENSE
PREVENTION
Agencies working to
prevent the spread of
C. jejeuni
 FSIS
 USDA
 HCCPS

Preventing the spread of infection would include
washing surfaces between cutting foods, washing
your hands frequently, thoroughly cooking meats.
For more information on causes and
preventing C. jejuni visit these websites
CDC - Campylobacter, General Information NCZVED
 http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteria
viruses/campylobacter/index.html
 http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/commonfoodbornep
athogens/p/campylobacter.htm

STAY
WELL
REFRENCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003, February). Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Retrieved July 24, 2012, from Floroquinolone Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolates in
travelers returning to Finland. Association of ciprofloxacin resistance to travel destination:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/9/2/02-0227_article.htm
Center for Disease Control. (2010, July 20). National center for emerging and zoonotic
infections diseases. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from Center for disease control and prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/campylobacter/
Center for Disease Control. (2011, February 9). PulseNet Pathogens-Campylobacter jejuni.
Retrieved July 1, 2012, from Center for disease control and prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/pathogens_pages/campylobacter_jejuni.htm
Engberg, J., Aarestrup, F. M., Taylor, D. E., Gerner-Smidt, P., & Nachamkin, I. (2001).
Quinolone and Mcrolide resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli: Resistance
mechanisms and trends in human isolates. Emerging Infectious Diseases , 24-34.
Food Safety.Gov. (n.d.). Food poisoning-Causes. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from Campylobacter:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/campylobacter/index.html
Hermans, D., Van Deun, K., Martel, A., Van Immerseel, F., Messens, W., Heyndrickx, M., et al.
(2011). Colonization factors of Campylobacter jejuni in the chicken gut. Veterinary Research
, DOI:10.1186/1297-9716-42-82.
Refrences Continued
Hwang, S., Jeon, B., Yun, J., & Ryu, S. (2011). Roles of RpoN in the resistance of
Campylobacter jejuni under various stress conditions. BMC Microbiology ,
DOI:10.1186/1471-2180-11-207.
U.S. Food and drug Administration. (2012, April 3). BBB-Campylobacter jejuni. Retrieved July
1, 2012, from Foodborne pathogenic microorgnisms and national toxins handbook:
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/foodborneillness/foodborneillnessfoodbornepathogensna
turaltoxins/badbugbook/ucm070024.htm
United Stated Department of Agriculture. (2011, August 17). Fact Sheets: Foodborne Illness &
disease. Retrieved July 24, 2012, from Food Safety and Inspection Service:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Campylobacter_Questions_and_Answers/index.asp
United Stated Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Research Projects Database. Retrieved July 24,
2012, from National Research Database:
http://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/nal_web/fsrio/advsearch.php?PROJECT_KEYWORDS=campylobac
ter&SEARCHTYPES=PROJECT_KEYWORDS&MATCHTYPE=ALLWORDS&investigat
or=&cat_mode=or&f2t_cat_mode=or&limit=10&VIEWTYPE=BRIEF&submit=Search&_q
f__usersearch=true&offset=0
References Continued
Viray, M., & Lynch, M. (2011, July 1). Travelers Health: Chapter 3 Infectious Disease.
Retrieved July 24, 2012, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-totravel/campylobacter-enteritis.htm
Yuki, N., Susuki, K., Koga, M., Nishimoto, Y., Odaka, M., Hirata, K., et al. (2004).
Carbohydrate mimicry between human ganglioside GM1 and campylobacter jejuni
lipooligosaccharide causes Gullian-Barre syndrome. Immunology ,
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0402391101.