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PhD thesis - University of Hertfordshire Research Archive

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Studies were most frequently conducted over twelve months on subjects<br />

from all age groups, but some were restricted to adults or infants/children.<br />

The average number <strong>of</strong> study participants increased over the surveillance<br />

period, with the number <strong>of</strong> parameters under investigation increasing<br />

commensurately. Studies increasingly focused on indigenously-acquired<br />

infections, employed matching in control selection and utilised multivariate<br />

statistical techniques in analysis. Surprisingly, the period <strong>of</strong> exposure for<br />

which information was sought did not vary greatly, averaging nine days.<br />

Based on the information reported, most studies asked participants about<br />

recent exposure to poultry (especially chicken) or dairy produce, as well as<br />

foreign travel and contact with animals and the wider environment. A<br />

disproportionately high number <strong>of</strong> questions on poultry and/or chicken<br />

consumption were included compared with other meat types, and the number<br />

<strong>of</strong> poultry-related questions posed increased over the surveillance period.<br />

The number <strong>of</strong> questions on selected epidemiological parameters, reported<br />

in each study, is provided in table A3.2 <strong>of</strong> Appendix 3.<br />

General poultry consumption was the most commonly identified risk factor,<br />

with three quarters (75%) <strong>of</strong> studies reporting this exposure where it was<br />

investigated, followed by animal contact (48%), water consumption (48%),<br />

dairy consumption (46%) and foreign travel (non-indigenous studies; 44%).<br />

Where investigated, chicken consumption was the most commonly identified<br />

specific exposure (58%), and the number <strong>of</strong> specific chicken risk factors<br />

reported (26) was exactly double the second most commonly reported<br />

specific risk factor (contact with animals other than dogs; 13; Appendix 3;<br />

table A3.3). Where Population Attributable Fractions (an estimate <strong>of</strong> the<br />

proportion <strong>of</strong> disease in the general population that is attributable to a<br />

particular risk factor) were reported (seven studies), chicken accounted for<br />

between 0 and 24% <strong>of</strong> campylobacter cases, and an average <strong>of</strong> 12% <strong>of</strong><br />

cases. Other important specific risk factors identified included the<br />

consumption <strong>of</strong> unpasteurised milk (47%), barbecued food (44%) or raw<br />

water (44%), and contact with dogs (42%). No case-control studies identified<br />

beef or lamb as a risk factor for Campylobacter infection.<br />

28

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