What is a Campylobacter Infection?

A Campylobacter infection is a common foodborne illness. The infection often occurs from eating contaminated food such as raw or undercooked poultry. You can also get it from infected animal feces, drinking contaminated water or raw milk.

Symptoms

While some infected people are asymptomatic, others will display symptoms 2-5 days after being infected. The following are common symptoms of Campylobacter infection and they last about a week.

Fever
Fatigue
Cramping
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea (which could be bloody)

How is Campylobacter infection Diagnosed?

Campylobacter infection is diagnosed through stool samples. Most people recover without any specific treatment. If you experience diarrhea with this infection, be sure to stay hydrated so you don’t end up with a secondary issue. For those who have a severe case or are immuned compromised, then they may need to antibiotics. In rare cases, the infection can cause reactive arthritis or Guillain-Barre syndrome.

To prevent Campylobacter infection, cook meat thoroughly. Use a separate cutting board and utensils for meats. Make sure to clean them carefully with soap and hot water after you use them. Good hand washing practices always helps, especially after handling feces or any kind.

Infectious Diseases Spread Through Feces

Feces are a biohazard and can be a vector for infectious diseases. These diseases can spread when spores or microscopic particles of feces are transferred from one person to another, often through ingestion. This transmission can occur directly, such as hand-to-mouth contact, or indirectly via contaminated objects, surfaces, foods, or water. Some examples of diseases that spread through fecal contamination include:

C. diff (Clostridioides difficile)

A serious bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon.

Campylobacteriosis

A bacterial infection that causes gastrointestinal illness, often linked to contaminated food or water.

Giardiasis

A protozoan infection that affects the intestines, commonly spread via contaminated water.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

A contagious viral illness affecting children, spread through contact with feces, saliva, or respiratory droplets

Salmonellosis

A bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps; often linked to undercooked food or poor hygiene.

Candidiasis (Thrush)

Though primarily caused by fungal overgrowth, poor hygiene and exposure to fecal contamination can exacerbate infection, particularly in vulnerable individuals.

Viral Gastroenteritis (Norovirus, etc.)

Highly contagious viruses that cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.

Hepatitis A

A viral liver infection transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water

Cryptosporidiosis

A parasitic infection causing watery diarrhea; often spreads in recreational water or through food.

Meningitis (bacterial or viral)

While not typically associated with fecal transmission, certain viral forms can spread via fecal-oral routes, particularly in communal settings.

Rotavirus Infection

A common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, spread via fecal-oral contact.

Shigellosis

A highly contagious bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Parasitic Worm Infections

Includes roundworms, tapeworms, and others transmitted through contaminated food, water, or soil.

Yersiniosis

A bacterial infection that can cause fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, typically spread through undercooked pork or contaminated water.

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