Case-control study of risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infections in northeastern Spain

Abstract

Background: An age-matched case-control study was conducted in northeastern Spain to identify major risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infections and their relative importance.Methods: Cases were aged >6 months, residents of Sector Sanitario Huesca with diarrhea and confirmed culture of Campylobacter not related to outbreak. For each case <15 years of age, the patient closest in age to the case was selected from the medical records of the case's pediatrician to serve as a control. If the case was ≥15 years of age, the control was nominated by the case.Results: Eighty one cases (median age 2.3 years, 79 <15 years) and 81 controls were enrolled. Three exposures, in the 7 days prior to symptom onset, were independent predictors for illness after multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis: consuming three or more times chicken [odds ratio (OR)adjusted = 6.1; confidence interval (CI): 2.0-18.5; population attributable fraction (PAF) = 36.1], consuming sliced deli meat unhygienically handled at retail stores (ORadjusted = 4.1; CI: 1.2-13.2; PAF = 24.5) and contact with animals (ORadjusted = 2.8; CI: 1.1-7.3; PAF = 19. 0). Among cases <15 years of age, only consuming chicken ≥3 times (ORadjusted = 7.8; CI: 2.2-26.7; PAF = 43.6) and contact with animals (ORadjusted = 3.7; CI: 1.2-11.0; PAF = 25.1) were independent predictors for disease. Consuming sliced deli meat unhygienically handled at retail stores was significantly more frequent among <15-year age group (56.3 versus 26.6.0, P = 0.04).Conclusion: A control programme for Campylobacter in the food chain and targeted food-safety education to prevent cross-contamination seem warranted to decrease the opportunity of human exposure to the pathogen in northeastern Spain. © 2009 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.