Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from retail mushrooms

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 3 (1.5%) of 200 retail, polyvinyl chloride film-wrapped, fresh mushrooms. These results indicate that fresh mushrooms may indeed be a source of C. jejuni and support previously reported epidemiological data (Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, Surveillance of the Flow of Salmonella and Campylobacter in a Community, 1984) which revealed an elevated relative risk of developing campylobacter enteritis in individuals who consume mushrooms.