Campylobacteriosis

Reporting Requirements

• Health Care Providers, Health Care Institutions, and Correctional Facilities
• Clinical Laboratories
• Schools, Child Care Establishments, and Shelters

Characteristics

• Etiologic Agent: Campylobacter, a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium. Campylobacter jejuni and less commonly C. coli are the usual causes of Campylobacter diarrhea in humans. However, 1% of cases are caused by other species.
• Mode of Transmission: Mainly through ingestion of the organisms in undercooked meat, contaminated food and water, or raw milk; from contact with infected animals. The infective dose for humans can be as low as less than 500 organisms. 
• Period of Communicability: Throughout the course of the infection; usually several days to several weeks. Individuals not treated with antibiotics may excrete organisms for 2-7 weeks.
• Incubation Period: Usually 2-5 days, but may range from 1-10 days depending on the dose ingested.
• Clinical Features: An acute zoonotic bacterial enteric disease of variable severity commonly characterized by fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea (often bloody). 
• Risk Groups: All age groups. All age groups. Infants and young adults are particularly likely to be infected.
• Occurrence: Worldwide. These organisms cause 5%-14% of diarrhea worldwide and are an important cause of traveler’s diarrhea.

Arizona Administrative Code: R9-6-310

1. Case control measures
   1. A local health agency shall exclude a campylobacteriosis case
      from working as a food handler, caring for children in or attending a child care establishment, or caring for patients or residents in a health care institution until:
      1. One of the following occurs:
      1. A culture negative for Campylobacter spp. is obtained from a stool specimen, or
      2. Treatment is maintained for 24 hours; and
      2. Diarrhea has resolved.
   2. A local health agency shall conduct an epidemiologic
      investigation of each reported campylobacteriosis case or suspect case. For each campylobacteriosis case, a local health agency shall complete and submit to the Department within 10 working days after completing an epidemiologic investigation form.
2. Contact control measures:
   1. A local health agency shall exclude each campylobacteriosis contact with diarrhea from working as a food handler until a culture negative for Campylobacter spp. is obtained from a stool specimen or diarrhea has resolved.

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