Figures show the decline of Campylobacter in England

The number of Campylobacter cases in England has declined in 2022, according to recently released figures.

The number of reported infections fell from 55,642 in 2021 to 54,461 cases in 2022, a decrease of 1,181.

The data comes from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Second Generation Surveillance System and the Department of Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) (GIFSOH) eFOSS (electronic food and non-foodborne outbreak surveillance system).

A total of 54 percent of cases were male, and the most affected age group was the 50 to 59-year-old category, accounting for 15 percent of laboratory reports.

The region reporting the most Campylobacter laboratory reports was the Southeast, with 9,540; However, the region with the highest rate per 100,000 inhabitants was the Northeast.

The number of monthly laboratory reports followed the same trend as previous years, with a peak in June.

Less than a quarter of Campylobacter samples in England were specified by laboratories. At more than 11,000, the most were Campylobacter jejuni, followed by Campylobacter coli at 1,243.

One outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni affected 13 people, with four laboratory-confirmed cases, and was caused by chicken served in a restaurant, cafe, pub, hotel or catering service.

In 2022, 30 European countries reported 140,241 confirmed cases of campylobacteriosis and 35 deaths. Germany had the most cases, with almost 43,500, while Spain was in second place with more than 20,800 infections.

Developing interventions
Meanwhile, a University of Reading researcher has been awarded a grant to investigate the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning in Britain.

Aidan Taylor, Microbiology lecturer, will conduct research into Campylobacter. The bacteria have developed resistance to some antibiotics, meaning new methods are needed to combat the bacteria.

The Academy of Medical Sciences has awarded funding as part of a grant it will share with 54 biomedical and health researchers. Taylor’s work will receive £121,000 ($153,000).

Taylor said the technology he will use to combat the bacteria works by disrupting its genes.

“Transposons are jumping genes that insert themselves into other genes to create a library of mutant bacteria. Antibiotic treatments are then used on this mutant library, and we measure which survive and which don’t, meaning we can see which genes are needed for survival,” he said.

“Developing interventions for Campylobacter will allow us to reduce the number of infections in people, save the suffering of many thousands of people, reduce the pressure on the NHS and the financial burden on taxpayers.”

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