An Overview of Campylobacter

Campylobacter is one of the most common sources of food poisoning in the United States, resulting in over one million cases of illness each year. Infections with the bacteria can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues, as well as some uncommon (but potentially serious) complications like blood infections and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

People become infected by eating or drinking things that have been contaminated with the bacteria—primarily raw or undercooked chicken. Most infections clear up on their own without issue, but severe cases can be treated with antibiotics. Nearly all cases can be prevented with proper food handling and hand-washing.

Learn the symptoms and causes of Campylobacter infection. Find out how Campylobacter infection is diagnosed and treated and what you can do to prevent it.

Symptoms of Campylobacter Infection

Because Campylobacter affects the digestive tract, many of the symptoms people experience are similar to those of other stomach bugs. The most common symptoms of campylobacteriosis include:

• Watery diarrhea that is sometimes bloody
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache

Complications of Campylobacter Infection

Most people who get sick with a Campylobacter infection are able to recover on their own with no long-term or serious consequences. Others, however, can go on to develop complications—some of which are serious. Complications of campylobacteriosis include:

• Dehydration (can be particularly harmful in young infants and pregnant people)
• Bacteremia (when the infection spreads to the bloodstream)
• Hepatitis
• Pancreatitis
• Miscarriage
• Irritable bowel syndrome (occurs in roughly five to 20% of cases)
• Arthritis (happens in an estimated 1 to 5% of Campylobacter infections)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (occurs in an estimated one in 1,000 reported cases)

Some of the more serious complications are more likely to happen in those who have weakened immune systems, such as people with blood disorders or AIDS, or who are receiving chemotherapy treatments.

How Does a Person Get Campylobacter?

Campylobacter infections are caused by eating or drinking something that has been contaminated with the bacteria. Most infections are the result of eating undercooked poultry or something else it came in contact with—like fruits or veggies cut on the same cutting board as raw chicken.

It is also possible to become infected through pet feces (especially dogs or cats), unpasteurized dairy products (like raw milk), untreated water, and unwashed fruits and vegetables. In very rare instances, people have become infected through blood transfusions.

Infections can happen in a wide variety of ways because the bacteria are found in a lot of places. Many different animals carry the bacteria even if they don’t appear sick—though cows and chickens are perhaps the most common sources of infections for humans.

According to an analysis done by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, 24% of chickens (about one in four) bought in stores in the U.S. test positive for Campylobacter.

It also doesn’t take much of the bacteria to cause illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ingesting just a single drop of juice from contaminated raw chicken is enough for someone to become infected.

While it’s really uncommon for the bacteria to spread from one person to another, the bacteria can still be found in the stool of infected individuals weeks after symptoms have gone away. Diseases can be spread through this fecal–oral route, from the stool of one person into the mouth of another, through poor hygiene, like improper handwashing.

How Is Campylobacter Infection Diagnosed?

Symptoms of campylobacteriosis—like diarrhea and nausea—look a lot like other stomach bugs, and that can make it difficult to diagnose the disease just by doing a physical exam or asking a few questions.

If your healthcare provider suspects your food poisoning is being caused by the Campylobacter bacterium, they’ll likely want to confirm the diagnose with a stool analysis. This involves taking a stool sample and sending it off to be tested in a lab for signs of the bacteria.

Treatment for Campylobacter Infection

Most Campylobacter infections in humans clear up just fine on their own, without the help of medications. However, healthcare providers might recommend antibiotics in cases where people are severely ill or are at risk for some of its serious complications.

Preventing Dehydration

Even if you don’t need to take antibiotics, there are things you can do to help prevent further complications—specifically dehydration.

Dehydration is a common risk for people with food poisoning, which is why many healthcare providers advise those with campylobacteriosis to drink extra fluids for as long as they experience diarrhea and/or vomiting. Likewise, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks should be avoided, as they can make it harder for the body to hang onto fluids.

Antibiotic Medications

Antibiotics can be used to treat campylobacteriosis in people who are already experiencing severe symptoms or who are at higher risk for severe disease because of their health history, age, or medical condition. The most common antibiotics prescribed to treat Campylobacter infections include:

• Azithromycin
• Fluoroquinolones (like ciprofloxacin)

In recent years, Campylobacter bacteria have become increasingly resistant to fluoroquinolones, making the drugs less effective at treating campylobacteriosis. Because of this, your healthcare provider might order additional tests to help figure out which treatment option is more appropriate.

How to Prevent Campylobacter Infection

Campylobacter infections are overwhelmingly preventable, so long as you take a few precautions.

• Cook chicken and other poultry thoroughly. Any time you're preparing poultry—including in casseroles and other dishes—use a cooking thermometer to verify the internal temperature of the meat is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're eating chicken at a restaurant and it looks undercooked, send it back and ask that it be cooked longer.
• Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces. Use soap and hot water when you wash anything while cooking. This includes faucets or drawer handles you might have touched while handling raw meat.
• Separate raw meats from fresh produce. Don't use the same cutting boards you use for raw chicken to chop veggies, and store raw meats in the fridge below your produce and in a sealed container so that the juices don't drip onto other foods.
• Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk or dairy products. It's not just raw meat you have to watch out for: Raw milk can also contain the Campylobacter bacterium—which is why it's so important to stick to pasteurized dairy products. This is especially true for young children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
• Drink only treated water. Avoid drinking water from rivers, streams, or lakes, unless the water is boiled or treated. If you drink well water, make sure that the well is far away from livestock, septic tanks, manure, and anything else that could introduce bacteria into the water supply.
• When traveling, take extra precautions. Don't drink water whose source you're unsure of—even in beverages like tea—and don't use ice unless it's from boiled or treated water. Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables in boiled or treated water, then peel them if appropriate. Keeping to a plant-based diet as much as possible while traveling is also wise, since you'll be less likely to be exposed to Campylobacter or other infections transmitted by animals or animal products.

Summary

Campylobacter is a common cause of foodborne illness. Symptoms of Campylobacter infection are similar to those of other gastrointestinal bacterial infections including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and more.

You can get Campylobacter by ingesting contaminated foods or beverages. Most often, the culprit is undercooked poultry. Other sources of infection include, but are not limited to, contaminated water and milk. Most people recover from Campylobacter infection on their own, but some may require antibiotic treatment.

Prevent spreading Campylobacter and other foodborne pathogens by properly handling your food. Cook poultry thoroughly, and wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces with soap and hot water.