Epidemiological aspects of enteritis due to Campylobacter spp. in Norway

Data pertaining to 249 patients with stool cultures positive for thermophilic campylobacters are presented. Campylobacters were isolated from about 3% of all cases of acute enteritis and occupied second place in the bacterial etiology of this syndrome following Salmonella spp. Concomitant isolation of salmonellae or shigellae or both was achieved in 40 (16.1%) of the patients infected with campylobacters. The results suggest a bimodal age distribution with highest rates in young adults aged 20 to 29 years and children below 10 years of age. A majority of the campylobacters were isolated from travellers returning from abroad, and, to a lesser extent, from immigrants, particularly from Asia. Immigrants accounted for 45.2% of the patients below 10 years of age. The number of cases increased during the warmer months of the year. Travelling habits could, at least in part, explain the observed seasonality, age distribution, and geographical origin of infection. Eight outbreaks of Campylobacter enteritis were detected, five of which were family outbreaks, whereas three involved people from different families.