Continuous source outbreak of campylobacteriosis traced to chicken

Poultry is a source of human campylobacteriosis, but a large continuous source outbreak, heretofore, has not been attributed to both a single source of poultry and single serotype of Campylobacter. Here we report an outbreak of C. jejuni affecting 6 catering college trainees and 13 patrons of a restaurant in southern England. An epidemiological investigation successfully tracked the outbreak source to the farm of origin. Frequency of occurrence of campylobacters and outbreak serotype distribution were determined in index cases, the local population, and local chicken suppliers. The source farm was investigated and the effect of interventions assessed. A single outbreak serotype of C. jejuni was isolated from trainee chefs, patrons, and chicken supplied to the college by Wholesaler A. The Campylobacter isolation rate for Wholesaler A was 89% (98% outbreak serotype), compared to 40% for non-Wholesaler A (10% outbreak serotype). The isolation rate for 14 months averaged 85% (99% outbreak serotype) in chickens grown on two farms (X and Y) supplying Wholesaler A, contributing approximately 40% to all local cases. In the research reported here, a specific strain and hygiene practice were found to be important for understanding transmission of Campylobacter from poultry to humans in this outbreak.