Campylobacter: Hidden Risks in Food and Water
Campylobacter is responsible for more cases of foodborne illness than you might expect. Often overshadowed by more notorious foodborne pathogens, Campylobacter remains a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.
What is Campylobacter?
Campylobacter comprises several species, with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli being the most common ones associated with human illness. These bacteria are typically found in the intestines of animals, particularly poultry, cattle, and other livestock. Campylobacteriosis, the infection caused by these bacteria, manifests as symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to more severe complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare but serious neurological disorder.
Prevalence
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's estimated that Campylobacter infects 1.5 million people each year in the US alone. Although many of these cases go unreported, these numbers highlight the significant public health burden posed by Campylobacter contamination.
Campylobacter transmission
Campylobacter can contaminate a variety of food and water sources. Poultry, particularly undercooked chicken, is a notorious source of Campylobacter contamination. Other common sources include unpasteurized milk, untreated water, and cross-contamination during food handling and preparation.
Symptoms
Campylobacter infection typically manifests within 2-5 days of exposure. Symptoms can include:
Severe diarrhea (often bloody)
Abdominal cramps
Fever
Nausea and vomiting
As with any disease causing diarrhea or vomiting, infected individuals should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost body fluids and prevent dehydration.
In most cases, symptoms resolve within a week without requiring medical intervention. However, for some individuals, especially pregnant people, young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, Campylobacter infection can lead to more serious complications, such as:
Guillain-Barré syndrome: A rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, and even death.
Reactive arthritis: A form of inflammatory arthritis that can affect the joints, eyes, and skin.
Preventing Campylobacter infection
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to safeguard yourself from Campylobacter contamination, including the following recommendations from Public Health Canada:
Thoroughly cook meat: Ensure meat products reach a safe internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. If you are served undercooked food in a restaurant, send it back.
Practice proper hand hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw food, especially poultry. Be sure to wash your cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils after preparing raw foods.
Consume pasteurized milk and milk products: Opt for pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
Wash fruits and vegetables meticulously: Wash all fresh produce under running water before consumption. Use a brush to scrub produce with firm or rough surfaces, like oranges, cantaloupes, potatoes and carrots.
Be cautious with untreated water: Avoid consuming untreated water from sources like wells or springs unless it has been properly disinfected.
If you are diagnosed with campylobacteriosis, be sure that you or your doctor notify the local Public Health Department. If many cases happen at the same time, it may mean that a restaurant or a particular food item needs to be recalled.
Real-time water monitoring
Real-time monitoring techniques are vital to prevent Campylobacter contamination, as they provide continuous surveillance of pathogen concentrations in water sources. Autonomous systems like the KRAKEN rapidly detect microbial contaminants like Campylobacter, allowing for swift intervention if these levels deviate from healthy ranges. Once contamination is detected, these devices send an alert to food processing plants, farms, or public health authorities to urge prompt response measures. Furthermore, through data analysis and prediction based on historical patterns, these monitoring systems can anticipate potential contamination incidents, enabling proactive preventive actions to safeguard water quality and public health.
Remember, knowledge is power. By understanding the prevalence, sources, and symptoms of Campylobacter contamination, you can empower yourself to make informed choices and take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from infection.