Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of international travel-associated Campylobacter infections in the United States, 2005-2011

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the role international travel plays in US Campylobacter epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: In this study, epidemiological and antimicrobial resistance data, encompassing the years 2005 to 2011, from 10 sites participating in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network were linked. The 10 sites are represented by 7 states that conducted surveillance on a statewide level, and 3 states which conducted county-level surveillance. Cases of Campylobacter among persons with history of international travel in the week prior to illness were compared with cases among individuals with no international travel.

Results: Approximately 18% of Campylobacter infections were estimated to be associated with international travel, and 60% of international travel-associated infections had a quinolone-resistant Campylobacter isolate.

Conclusions: We confirm that international travel plays a significant role in campylobacteriosis diagnosed in the United States. Recognizing this is important to both medical management decisions and understanding burden and attribution estimates of US campylobacteriosis and antibiotic-resistant campylobacteriosis.

FIGURE 1—

Flowchart diagramming number of cases analyzed in each study population: United States, 2005–2011. Note. NARMS = National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. Of 42 402 FoodNet Campylobacter cases reported between 2005–2011, < 8000 should have been submitted to the NARMS, bringing the percentage of linkage among available isolates to 88%.

FIGURE 2—

Difference in resistance between quinolones and macrolides among international travel-associated Campylobacter cases reported to FoodNet: 2005–2011.