With the official control of fresh chicken meat in retail, experts revealed a high content of pathogenic campylobacteria. 211 of 407 samples studied (52%) were infected by retailers trading in Moscow markets. The bacterium causes severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and headache.
How common are campylobacteria?
Campylobacter colonize the intestines of a wide range of animals: from wild birds to cattle. Pathogens survive at low ambient temperatures. They are unable to reproduce outside the host organism. Campylobacter is distinguished by this, for example, from salmonella and E. coli pathogenic.
Bacterial intestinal infection affects annually from 80,000 to 95,000 people in Russia.
In 2014, pathogenic bacteria were already detected in 54% of the samples. In 2018, a high number of pathogenic bacteria was found in 79% of meat product samples.
According to the Ministry of Health, campylobacteriosis is the most common bacterial disease. Most often, the infection is detected in children under the age of 5 years and in adults from 20 to 29 years.
To protect against pathogenic bacteria, experts recommend thoroughly cooking meat and hygiene when processing food.
Bacteria-infected food in Russia causes more than 100,000 reported infections per year. The number of unregistered case authorities estimate 10 times higher. About 49% of cases of infection can be prevented annually by not using marketed meat products.
What are the symptoms of campylobacteriosis?
The natural habitat of bacteria is a variety of wild, domestic and farm animals. Since infected people and animals secrete bacteria through their feces, this is also a possible route of infection. The amount needed to cause campylobacteriosis is relatively low - about 500 microbes. Therefore, the disease is considered very contagious.
12-24 hours before intestinal inflammation, an increase in body temperature (38-40 ° C), headache, fatigue, and muscle pain are often observed. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, fever, and fatigue.
The second phase of the infection is characterized by other symptoms: acute colic, indigestion, and diarrhea. The frequency of bowel movements can reach 20 times a day.
Campylobacteriosis-related diarrhea is usually watery, but may contain mucus and blood. Infants and people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV patients, are at high risk of death.
What is the danger of campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacteriosis usually proceeds benignly: intestinal inflammation heals without consequences - even without antibiotic treatment. However, in 10-20% of patients, the infection causes chronic intestinal inflammation.
Campylobacteriosis sometimes progresses and damages the intestinal wall. Consequently, mixed infections of salmonella, shigella, Escherichia coli and rotaviruses are possible.
Other potential complications are joint inflammation, which occurs 2-3 weeks after infection.
In some cases, the nerve roots in the spinal cord become inflamed. Nerve damage often develops after an infection of the upper respiratory tract or gastrointestinal tract. If there is a connection between the infection and the disease of the nervous system, an ambulance is urgently needed.
Can an infectious disease be prevented?
Proper hand hygiene - The main method for the prevention of infectious disease. It is important to wash your hands with soap all the time! During the preparation of poultry, do not drink contaminated water or food that has come into contact with it.
Another preventative measure is abandon market meat products of uncertain quality. Many retailers neglect established food processing guidelines.
Prevention is also important in case of an already existing disease. As long as there are symptoms of infection, it is important that you stay at home. Parents need not to contact with children. Even after complete recovery, a person is able to secrete the pathogen through stool.
