Campylobacter
What is it?
- A bacterium that lives in the intestines of birds (particularly poultry), animals and infected people.
- The most commonly reported cause of intestinal infection.
How does it spread?
- Campylobacter may enter the home in several ways:
- In or on people who are infected with it'. It can continue to be transmitted in faeces even after recovery
- In or on domestic pets such as cats and dogs
- in doorstep milk that has been pecked by birds
- When contaminated food or its juices come into contact with surfaces in the home, those surfaces will also become contaminated. The germs can then be transmitted round the home via hands that have been involved in cooking or touching surfaces, cloths, cooking utensils etc.
- The germs are contained in the vomit or faeces of a person or animal that is infected with, or that is carrying the bug. It can then find its way round the home via hands, toilet surfaces, nappies, surfaces etc.
Who is at risk?
- Anyone can be infected by Campylobacter.
- Those most at risk are babies, young children and others with reduced immunity.
Symptoms
- Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever within two to 10 days after infection
- Diarrhoea may contain blood and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Prevent the spread
- Everyone should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.
- Take special care with food and kitchen hygiene. Ill people should not prepare food for others.
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Hygenically clean bathroom surfaces, and disinfect toilets and potties etc regularly with bleach. If someone has diarrhoea, disinfect the toilet bowl and flush handle after they use it.
- Clean up any spillages (e.g. faeces, vomit) immediately.
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Disinfect cleaning cloths etc by soaking in a solution of dilute bleach overnight drying them thoroughly.
- An ill person should not share cloths and towels, etc with others and their laundry should be kept and washed separately.
- Handle dirty nappies with care and ensure they are disposed of carefully by putting them in a nappy bag, before putting them in a bin-liner. Doing this ensures that any bacteria are less likely to cause further harm. If you use a nappy bin, make sure you use bleach to clean it after use.
