Most cases of campylobacteriosis are sporadic and can often be traced to a suspect food or drinking water. Campylobacter are zoonotic bacteria found in many wild and domestic animals including cattle, poultry, puppies, kittens, pigs, sheep, rodents, ducks, geese, cranes, and seagulls. It is also present in livestock feces and may be found in raw milk, meat, or fecally contaminated drinking water. Once a person has ingested the bacteria, the incubation period is usually 2 to 5 days, but can be as short as 1 day or as long as 10 days. Campylobacteriosis is usually self-limiting.
Treatment is primarily supportive incorporating fluid and electrolyte replacement.
Antibiotic therapy is limited to patients with bloody or intense diarrhea, high fever, immunosuppression, and to those experiencing symptoms over 1 week in duration. When antibiotic treatment is indicated, erythromycin is the drug of choice, with the quinolones as alternatives. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has been reported and has been attributed to foreign acquired infections and to increased use of fluroquinolone antibiotics in the poultry industry. Practicing simple kitchen safety can prevent campylobacteriosis. Measures taken to control Campylobacter contamination during poultry and meat production, slaughter, and processing can reduce the levels of Campylobacter , but not completely eliminate it from the food supply.