Incidence and analysis of campylobacteriosis cases in the Czech Republic in 1997-2017

The aim of our study was to conduct analysis of reported epidemiological data on human campylobacteriosis in the Czech Republic (CZ) from 1997 to 2017 and to summarize the current knowledge about the disease.

We conducted a descriptive epidemiological analysis of data on campylobacteriosis cases reported to the national surveillance system of infectious diseases in the CZ (EpiDat) from 1997 to 2017. MS Excel 2010 and statistical program R were used for data management and analysis. The incidence maps were created using the ECDC Map Maker tool (EMMa).

Overall, 411 699 campylobacteriosis cases (average annual incidence of 188.9/ 100 000) were reported in the CZ from 1997 to 2017. Between 1997 and 2005, the annual incidence of campylobacteriosis was increasing sharply, but it showed a fairly stable trend over the last decade. The highest average age-specific incidence of 1 068.5/100 000 was observed in the age group 1-4 years followed by 99% of cases). The most common etiologic agent of campylobacteriosis is Campylobacter jejuni.

Since 2007, campylobacteriosis is the most common food- and water-borne disease in the CZ. Given the high number of cases, this infectious disease is a rising public health concern. The prevention should be focused on the main risk groups, i.e. children under 5 years of age, who are the most affected, and those older than 80 years, who have more complications and a higher hospitalization rate.