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A tradition and an epidemic : determinants of the campylobacteriosis winter peak in Switzerland

Bless, Philipp Justus and Schmutz, Claudia and Suter, Kathrin and Jost, Marianne and Hattendorf, Jan and Mäusezahl-Feuz, Mirjam and Mäusezahl, Daniel. (2014) A tradition and an epidemic : determinants of the campylobacteriosis winter peak in Switzerland. European journal of epidemiology, Vol. 29, H. 7. pp. 527-537.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6288917

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Abstract

Campylobacteriosis is the most frequently reported food borne infection in Switzerland. We investigated determinants of infections and illness experience in wintertime. A case-control study was conducted in Switzerland between December 2012 and February 2013. Cases were recruited among laboratory-confirmed campylobacteriosis patients. Population-based controls were matched according to age group, sex and canton of residence. We determined risk factors associated with campylobacteriosis, and help seeking behaviour and illness perception. The multivariable analysis identified two factors associated with an increased risk for campylobacteriosis: consumption of meat fondue (matched odds ratio [mOR] 4.0, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 2.3-7.1) and travelling abroad (mOR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.1-6.4). Univariable analysis among meat fondue consumers revealed chicken as the type of meat with the highest risk of disease (mOR 3.8, 95 % CI 1.1-13.5). Most frequently reported signs and symptoms among patients were diarrhoea (98 %), abdominal pain (81 %), fever (66 %), nausea (44 %) and vomiting (34 %). The median perceived disease severity was 8 on a 1-to-10 rating scale. Patients reported a median duration of illness of 7 days and 14 % were hospitalised. Meat fondues, mostly "Fondue chinoise", traditionally consumed during the festive season in Switzerland, are the major driver of the epidemic campylobacteriosis peak in wintertime. At these meals, individual handling and consumption of chicken meat may play an important role in disease transmission. Laboratory-confirmed patients are severely ill and hospitalisation rate is considerable. Public health measures such as decontamination of chicken meat and improved food handling behaviour at the individual level are urgently needed.
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) > Household Economics and Health Systems Research > Household Health Systems (Mäusezahl)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
UniBasel Contributors:Hattendorf, Jan and Mäusezahl, Daniel
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0393-2990
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:10 Oct 2014 09:19
Deposited On:10 Oct 2014 09:19

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