Burden and Cost of Campylobacter Risk Factors in Australia

An article published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease entitled “Burden and Cost of Campylobacter Risk Factors in Australia” Foodborne Pathogens and Disease Vol. 21, No. 12 by Cribb et al. reported the quantification of the cost of illness attributable to risk factors for C. jejuni and C. coli in Australia. Data from a 2018–2019 case-control study was used to estimate odds ratios and attributable fractions for risk factors.  In Australia, C. jejuni caused 83.0% of campylobacteriosis infections, and chicken consumption resulted in the highest attributable fraction (30.0%), costing approximately US$110 million annually. The excess burden of campylobacteriosis associated with the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) was US$45 million, with almost half these costs due to disease in adults over 65 years of age. Contact with young dogs (US$30 million) and chicken feces (US$10 million) also contributed to costs and burden. Campylobacteriosis is a significant cost to Australia, particularly because of lost productivity. Effective cross-sectoral interventions to improve chicken meat safety and reduce inappropriate use of PPIs might have substantial economic and human benefits. @ https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/fpd.2024.0022