What to Know About Campylobacter

Campylobacter bacteria commonly cause food poisoning. They can be present in undercooked poultry, raw milk, and contaminated water. They can cause diarrhea for 3–6 days. Typically, people recover without medical intervention, but antibiotics are sometimes necessary. This article discusses Campylobacter bacteria and the symptoms of campylobacteriosis, which is the food poisoning illness they cause. It also covers how Campylobacter bacteria spread, how you can prevent infection, and when to contact a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. 

“Campylobacter” most often refers to Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), which are bacteria that cause the foodborne illness campylobacteriosis. Campylobacter bacteria are one of the leading causes of food poisoning, which includes traveler’s diarrhea. These conditions are a type of gastroenteritis.

It is difficult to know how common Campylobacter infections are because most people recover at home without contacting their medical clinician. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that it causes 1.5 million illnesses in the United States each year. 

The bacteria live in the stool of animals and may come into contact with the meat of the animal during the packaging process. You can become ill if you eat raw or undercooked meat or consume something contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. 

The most commonly contaminated foods are poultry, unpasteurized milk, and produce. 

Symptoms typically start 2­–5 days after exposure to the bacteria and can last up to 3–6 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Some people do not experience any symptoms.

Symptoms can include:

• diarrhea
• fever
• stomach cramps
• nausea
• vomiting

The CDC says to contact a medical professional right away for these five symptoms of severe food poisoning:

• bloody diarrhea
• diarrhea for longer than 3 days
• fever higher than 102°F (38.8°C)
• frequent vomiting
• dehydration

Anyone with food poisoning — especially young children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised — should be observed for signs and symptoms of dehydration, including:

• a dry mouth or tongue
• urinating less than usual
• dark urine
• eyes that look sunken

Seek medical attention for dehydration symptoms.

Learn more about serious symptoms of food poisoning and how to recognize dehydration here. 

In resource-rich countries, 90% of Campylobacter infections happen in the summer. The underlying reason for this seasonal trend is still an area of research.

The bacteria spread through: 

• contaminated water
• contaminated food
• contact with animal stool  
• person-to-person contact, which is rare

The most commonly affected populations are children under 4 years old and adults ages 15–44 years.

Several straightforward practices can help you keep yourself safe from Campylobacter infections.

To reduce your chance of getting sick, the CDC advises washing your hands with soap and water:

• before you eat
• before and after caring for someone who is sick
• before, during, and after food preparation
• after using the bathroom
• after changing a diaper
• after blowing your nose or coughing
• after touching your pets and other animals or their stool

The rule of thumb is to keep raw meats away from other foods. Use separate cutting boards for meats and other foods, and ensure that you clean them well in between uses. Keep in mind that it only takes a few Campylobacter bacteria in a small amount of food to start an infection.

Consuming poultry, such as chicken, turkey, duck, or goose, contaminated with the bacteria — or something that has come into contact with the poultry — is the most common cause of Campylobacter infection, says the CDC. When cooking these meats, check the internal temperature before eating. 

This table, which is adapted from FoodSafety.gov, shows the safe minimum internal temperature when cooking meat and poultry.

* The information about smoking meat comes from the CDC.

Pasteurization is heating milk to the point that harmful bacteria present in the milk do not survive. Drinking unpasteurized milk increases the chance of being exposed to Campylobacter bacteria.

Water from streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes can be contaminated with harmful bacteria, including Campylobacter bacteria. In addition, wells close to septic tanks or livestock and manure are also at risk.

Drink only treated water and regularly inspect your wells for safety.  

Animals, including pets, can carry Campylobacter bacteria and other bacteria. Always wash your hands after:

• touching animals
• touching an animal’s food and water
• cleaning up animal waste or vomit
• touching animal bedding or toys 

If you have been sick for a week and have not improved, or if you have symptoms of dehydration, contact a medical professional. To test you for a Campylobacter infection, your clinician will send your stool to a laboratory for testing. 

They may also order a blood test to check your white blood cell count. 

Most people do not require medical intervention because the sickness goes away on its own. Fluids, rest, and minor changes in diet may help prevent a more serious illness.

However, for a serious illness or the spread of infection to the bloodstream, hospitalization may be necessary, and healthcare professionals will prescribe antibiotics.

When you have diarrhea, vomiting, or both, you are losing extra fluids, and there is a chance of dehydration. Drink plenty of water. You may also drink sports drinks to help replace lost electrolytes. There are also rehydration solutions available for purchase at grocery stores and pharmacies without a prescription. 

Other things that can rehydrate you include:

• Jell-O
• popsicles
• broth

Some of these foods make people feel more nauseous or cause more severe diarrhea: 

• caffeinated drinks
• high fat foods
• high sugar foods
• dairy products

When you do not feel well, it is hard to know what to eat. However, nutrition is important when you have food poisoning. The BRAT diet — consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — is a bland food diet that is not harsh on your digestive system. It also helps your stool become firmer. 

Learn more about the BRAT diet here.

For severe campylobacteriosis or dehydration, IV fluids may be necessary to help restore hydration and electrolyte balance.

Sometimes, clinicians administer antibiotics to treat people who become more severely ill or are more likely to, including infants and people who have certain underlying health conditions. Typical antibiotics include azithromycin and ciprofloxacin. However, some Campylobacter strains are resistant to these antibiotics. Your healthcare team can test the bacteria to see which antibiotic is best. 

For most people, Campylobacter infections last 3–6 days. There are usually no complications.

Groups that are more likely to develop complications include children (under 4 years of age) and those who have a serious or chronic condition, such as HIV or another immunosuppressive condition. 

Rare complications, according to the WHO, include:

• pseudoappendicitis
• reactive arthritis in the joints
• hepatitis
• pancreatitis
• colitis
• pericarditis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• meningitis
• bacteremia

Death from campylobacteriosis is rare. 

Here are some other questions that people have asked about Campylobacter bacteria.

Most people recover well from Campylobacter food poisoning. Severe illness is more likely in certain populations, including those under 4 or over 65 years of age and those whose immune system is suppressed.

In humans, Campylobacter bacteria cause intestinal infections and inflammation. The illness is usually self-limiting, meaning that it often goes away on its own without medical intervention. 

Campylobacter and Salmonella cause similar infections and symptoms in humans, but Campylobacter bacteria are a more frequently reported cause of diarrhea.

No, Campylobacter bacteria are gram-negative rods that are spiral (helical) or comma shaped. There are more than 20 species, and not all of them cause illness in humans. C. jejuni is the most common species to cause human illness.

Campylobacter bacteria are a common cause of food poisoning, usually from contaminated poultry. The infection they cause is called campylobacteriosis, and it leads to diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramping, and vomiting. It lasts about a week and does not usually require antibiotics.

Very young children and people with health conditions that suppress the immune system have a higher chance of developing more severe symptoms.