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Pathogen-specific risk of reactive arthritis from bacterial causes of foodborne illness

Chad K Porter1, Daniel Choi, Mark S Riddle

  • 1Enteric Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-7500, USA. chad.porter@med.navy.mil

The Journal of Rheumatology
|April 3, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Reactive arthritis (ReA) incidence following bacterial gastroenteritis is low. This study found ReA occurred rarely after infections from Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, or Yersinia, emphasizing prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a post-infectious inflammatory condition.
  • Gastrointestinal infections are known triggers for ReA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of ReA after specific bacterial gastroenteritis.
  • To analyze ReA risk following infections by Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a U.S. Department of Defense medical database.
  • Matched infected subjects with unexposed controls.
  • Monitored medical history for 6 months post-infection for ReA development.

Main Results:

  • Identified 1753 cases of bacterial gastroenteritis.
  • Observed ReA incidence rates between 0 and 4 per 100,000 person-years.
  • Demonstrated a low incidence of ReA across the studied pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Findings align with previous research on ReA incidence.
  • Reinforces the importance of primary prevention strategies for infectious gastroenteritis.
Keywords:
FOODBORNE ILLNESSPATHOGENREACTIVE ARTHRITIS

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