Campylobacteriosis
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

Campylobacteriosis is caused by Campylobacter bacteria and results in intestinal illness. It is the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal illness in the U.S. During 2022, 1,540 Campylobacter cases were reported. Of those, 1,095 were culture-confirmed, and 445 were only tested by a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) and not subsequently culture-confirmed. The rate of culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases reported in 2021 was 21.1 per 100,000 population. The 1,095 culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases represent an 8% decrease from the 1,192 cases reported in 2021, and a 5% increase from the annual median of 1,046 cases reported from 2012 to 2021 (range, 793 to 1,237). In 2022, 48% of cases occurred in people who resided in the metropolitan area. Of the 1,021 Campylobacter isolates confirmed and identified to species by MDH, 82% were C. jejuni and 12% were C. coli.

The median age of culture-confirmed cases was 41 years (range, one month to 94 years). Forty percent were between 20 and 49 years of age, and 10% were ≤5 years of age. Fifty-two percent were male. Fifteen percent were hospitalized; the median length of hospitalization was three days. Six (0.6%) cases died. Forty-eight percent of infections occurred during June through September. Of the 834 cases for which data were available, 131 (16%) reported travel outside the United States during the week prior to illness onset. The most common travel destination was Mexico (n=30).

In 2009, a CIDT became commercially available for the qualitative detection of Campylobacter antigens in stool. In 2022, 41 patients were positive for Campylobacter by an antigen detection CIDT conducted in a clinical laboratory. However, only 13 (32%) of the specimens were subsequently culture-confirmed. Beginning in 2015, some clinical laboratories in Minnesota began testing stool specimens with PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels, another type of CIDT. In 2022, 1,362 patients were positive for Campylobacter by a PCR gastrointestinal panel; 945 (69%) of these specimens were culture-confirmed. The median age of the CIDT-positive only cases was 48 years (range, one month to 100 years). Seventy-one (16%) cases were hospitalized; the median hospital stay was 3 days (range, one to 155 days). Three (0.7%) CIDT-only cases died.

Three outbreaks of Campylobacter infections were identified in 2022. Two cases were associated with animal contact at a dairy farm, two cases were associated with an event at a private home, and one outbreak was associated with chicken sourced from a Minnesota farm.

A primary feature of public health importance among Campylobacter cases was the continued presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin), which are commonly used to treat campylobacteriosis. Historically, 80-90% of Campylobacter isolates from patients with a history of foreign travel during the week prior to illness onset, regardless of destination, are resistant to fluoroquinolones as compared to approximately 20% of Campylobacter isolates from patients who acquire their infection domestically.

• Find up to date information at>> Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)

During 2021, 1,562 Campylobacter cases were reported. Of those, 1,192 were culture-confirmed, and 370 were only tested by a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) and not subsequently culture-confirmed. The rate of culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases reported in 2021 was 20.9 per 100,000 population. The 1,192 culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases represent a 50% increase from the 793 cases reported in 2020, and a 22% increase from the annual median of 975 cases reported from 2011 to 2020 (range, 793 to 1,238). In 2021, 48% of cases occurred in people who resided in the metropolitan area. Of the 1,104 Campylobacter isolates confirmed and identified to species by MDH, 85% were C. jejuni and 9% were C. coli.

The median age of culture-confirmed cases was 41 years (range, 2 months to 99 years). Thirty-eight percent were between 20 and 49 years of age, and 11% were ≤5 years of age. Fifty-four percent were male. Seventeen percent were hospitalized; the median length of hospitalization was 3 days. Two (0.2%) cases died. Forty-nine percent of infections occurred during June through September. Of the 982 cases for whom data were available, 62 (6%) reported travel outside the United States during the week prior to illness onset. The most common travel destination was Mexico (n=21).

In 2009, a CIDT became commercially available for the qualitative detection of Campylobacter antigens in stool. In 2021, 40 patients were positive for Campylobacter by an antigen detection CIDT conducted in a clinical laboratory. However, only 19 (48%) of the specimens were subsequently culture-confirmed. Beginning In 2015, some clinical laboratories in Minnesota began testing stool specimens with PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels, another type of CIDT. In 2021, 1,353 patients were positive for Campylobacter by a PCR gastrointestinal panel; 1,005 (74%) of these specimens were culture-confirmed. The median age of the CIDT-positive only cases was 49 years (range, 1 month to 93 years). Sixty-eight (18%) cases were hospitalized; the median hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1 to 123 days). No CIDT-only cases died.

Four outbreaks of Campylobacter infections were identified in 2021. Nineteen cases were associated with poultry contact at a farm and garden center, 13 cases were associated with person-to-person transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) contact, two cases were associated with chicken liver yakitori at a restaurant, and two cases were associated with multiple food items at a restaurant.

A primary feature of public health importance among Campylobacter cases was the continued presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin), which are commonly used to treat campylobacteriosis. In 2021, the overall proportion of ciprofloxacin resistance among Campylobacter isolates tested was 26%. However, historically, 80- 90% of Campylobacter isolates from patients with a history of foreign travel during the week prior to illness onset, regardless of destination, were resistant to fluoroquinolones as compared to approximately 20% of Campylobacter isolates from patients who acquired their infection domestically.

• Find up to date information at>> Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)

There were 793 culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases reported in 2020 (14.1 per 100,000 population). This is a 30% decrease from the 1,141 cases reported in 2019, and a 14% decrease from the annual median of 1,002 cases reported from 2010 to 2019 (range, 834 to 1,238) (Figure 2). In 2020, 41% of cases occurred in people who resided in the metropolitan area. Of the 722 Campylobacter isolates confirmed and identified to species by MDH, 80% were C. jejuni and 12% were C. coli.

The median age of cases was 43 years (range, 2 months to 96 years). Forty-eight percent were between 20 and 49 years of age, and 11% were ≤5 years of age. Fifty-three percent were male. Eighteen percent were hospitalized; the median length of hospitalization was 2 days. Four (0.5%) cases died. Forty-six percent of infections occurred during June through September. Of the 551 cases for whom data were available, 53 (10%) reported travel outside the United States during the week prior to illness onset. The most common travel destinations were Mexico (n=15), and India (n=7).

Three outbreaks of Campylobacter infections were identified in 2020. Nine cases were associated with contact with puppies, 2 cases were associated with contact with live poultry, and 1 case was associated with person-to-person transmission in a childcare facility.

A primary feature of public health importance among Campylobacter cases was the continued presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin), which are commonly used to treat campylobacteriosis. In 2020, the overall proportion of ciprofloxacin resistance among Campylobacter isolates tested was 26%. However, historically, 80-90% of Campylobacter isolates from patients with a history of foreign travel during the week prior to illness onset, regardless of destination, were resistant to fluoroquinolones as compared to approximately 20% of Campylobacter isolates from patients who acquired their infection domestically.

In 2009, a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) became commercially available for the qualitative detection of Campylobacter antigens in stool. In 2020, 35 patients were positive for Campylobacter by an antigen detection CIDT conducted in a clinical laboratory. However, only 12 (34%) of the specimens were subsequently culture-confirmed. Beginning In 2015, some clinical laboratories in Minnesota began testing stool specimens with PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels, another type of CIDT. In 2020, 854 patients were positive for Campylobacter by a PCR gastrointestinal panel; 616 (72%) of these specimens were culture-confirmed. Only culture-confirmed cases met the surveillance case definition for inclusion in MDH case count totals.

• Find up to date information at>> Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)

There were 1,141 culture-confirmed Campylobacter reported in 2019 (20.3 per 100,000 population). This is an 8% decrease from the 1,238 cases reported in 2018, but a 27% increase from the annual median of 975 cases reported from 2009 to 2018 (range, 834 to 1,238). In 2019, 44% of cases occurred in people who resided in the metropolitan area. Of the 1,138 Campylobacter isolates confirmed and identified to species by MDH, 79% were C. jejuni and 11% were C. coli.

The median age of cases was 30 years (range, 2 months to 96 years). Forty-two percent were between 20 and 49 years of age, and 9% were ≤5 years of age. Fifty-seven percent were male. Fourteen percent were hospitalized; the median length of hospitalization was 3 days. Forty-seven percent of infections occurred during June through September. Of the 1,028 cases for whom data were available, 195 (19%) reported travel outside the United States during the week prior to illness onset. The most common travel destinations were Europe (n=48), Central or South America or the Caribbean (n=46), Mexico (n=37), Asia (n=35), Africa (n=12), and the Middle East (n=11).

Three outbreaks of Campylobacter infections were identified in 2019. One was due to foodborne transmission at a restaurant. One was due to contact with puppies; and one was associated with a festival, but the route of transmission was not determined.

A primary feature of public health importance among Campylobacter cases was the continued presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin), which are commonly used to treat campylobacteriosis. In 2019, the overall proportion of ciprofloxacin resistance among Campylobacter isolates tested was 36%. However, historically, 80- 90% of Campylobacter isolates from patients with a history of foreign travel during the week prior to illness onset, regardless of destination, were resistant to fluoroquinolones as compared to approximately 20% of Campylobacter isolates from patients who acquired their infection domestically.

In 2009, a culture-independent test (CIDT) became commercially available for the qualitative detection of Campylobacter antigens in stool. In 2019, 36 patients were positive for Campylobacter by an antigen detection CIDT conducted in a clinical laboratory. However, only 12 (33%) of the specimens were subsequently culture-confirmed. Beginning In 2015, some clinical laboratories in Minnesota began testing stool specimens with PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels, another type of CIDT. In 2019, 1,247 patients were positive for Campylobacter by a PCR gastrointestinal panel; 923 (74%) of these specimens were culture-confirmed. Only culture-confirmed cases met the surveillance case definition for inclusion in MDH case count totals.

• Find up to date information at>> Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)

There were 1,238 culture-confirmed Campylobacter cases reported in 2018 (22.2 per 100,000 population). This is an 18% increase over the 1,049 cases reported in 2017, and a 32% increase from the annual median of 939.5 cases reported from 2008 to 2017 (range, 834 to 1,049) (Figure 3). In 2018, 48% of cases occurred in people who resided in the metropolitan area. Of the 1,178 Campylobacter isolates confirmed and identified to species by MDH, 83% were C. jejuni and 12% were C. coli.

The median age of cases was 36 years (range, 3 months to 95 years). Forty-two percent were between 20 and 49 years of age, and 9% were ≤5 years of age. Fifty-five percent were male. Fifteen percent were hospitalized; the median length of hospitalization was 4 days. Forty-five percent of infections occurred during June through September. Of the 1,126 cases for whom data were available, 233 (21%) reported travel outside the United States during the week prior to illness onset. The most common travel destinations were Europe (n=67), Mexico (n=52), Asia (n=47), Central or South America or the Caribbean (n=36), Africa (n=17), and the Middle East (n=12).

Seven outbreaks of Campylobacter infections were identified. Three outbreaks were due to foodborne transmission. One outbreak was associated with chicken liver pâté served at a restaurant, one outbreak was associated with a restaurant with an unknown vehicle of transmission, and one multistate outbreak was associated with consumption of chicken livers. An additional probable foodborne outbreak was likely caused by chicken wings served at a restaurant. Two animal contact outbreaks were identified; the vehicle of transmission was contact with puppies for both outbreaks. One outbreak of Campylobacter infections was associated with a child care facility, but the route of transmission was not confirmed.

A primary feature of public health importance among Campylobacter cases was the continued presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin), which are commonly used to treat campylobacteriosis. In 2018, the overall proportion of quinolone resistance among Campylobacter isolates tested (n=129) was 40%. However, 89% of Campylobacter isolates from patients with a history of foreign travel during the week prior to illness onset, regardless of destination, were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Twentyone percent of Campylobacter isolates from patients who acquired the infection domestically were resistant to fluoroquinolones.

In 2009, a culture-independent test (CIDT) became commercially available for the qualitative detection of Campylobacter antigens in stool. In 2018, 74 patients were positive for Campylobacter by an antigen detection CIDT conducted in a clinical laboratory. However, only 17 (23%) of the specimens were subsequently culture-confirmed. Beginning In 2015, some clinical laboratories in Minnesota began testing stool specimens with PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels, another type of CIDT. In 2018, 1,235 patients were positive for Campylobacter by a PCR gastrointestinal panel; 955 (77%) of these specimens were culture-confirmed. Only culture-confirmed cases met the surveillance case definition for inclusion in MDH case count totals.

• For up to date information see>> Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)

• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).