Infectious Diseases 2023

Diagnostic laboratories are required to report the detection of Campylobacter in humans, and doctors are also required to report cases that occur frequently, such as those related to foodborne illnesses. In 2022, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) received a total of 7,597 laboratory-confirmed cases of campylobacteriosis. This translates to a reporting rate of 87 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. While there has been an increase in the number of cases compared to the past two years, which were influenced by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic measures and behavioral changes, the number of cases in 2022 remains stable compared to the pre-pandemic years.
Typically, campylobacteriosis follows a seasonal pattern, with the first increase occurring during the summer. In July and August 2022, a total of 2,061 cases were reported.
More detailed information about the Campylobacter species was available for 4,304 (57%) of the cases. Among these, 58% were identified as C. jejuni, 7% as C. coli, and 31% as either C. jejuni or C. coli (undifferentiated).
As part of the poultry industry's self-monitoring, a total of 1,197 tests were conducted on chicken and turkey meat in 2022, including animal carcasses and meat samples. Out of these, 322 (26.9%) tested positive for Campylobacter spp. (compared to 21.2% in 2021): 138 were C. jejuni (42.9%), 26 were C. coli (8.1%), and 158 were not further typed (49.1%).
Among the 1,194 chicken meat samples (carcasses and meat) tested, 322 (27.0%) were found to be Campylobacter-positive.
The hygiene regulation specifies a process hygiene criterion for Campylobacter on chicken carcasses. Large poultry slaughterhouses are required to quantitatively examine a certain number of chicken carcasses for Campylobacter after cooling as part of their self-monitoring. The Campylobacter germ count should not exceed 1,000 CFU/g too frequently. If it does, the slaughterhouse must take measures to reduce the germ count, such as improving hygiene and reviewing process controls.
In 2022, out of the 890 quantitatively examined samples of chicken carcasses, 98 (11.0%) exceeded the Campylobacter count of 1,000 CFU/g. Additionally, in 189 (21.2%) of the samples, the Campylobacter bacterial count was above the detection limit but below 1,000 CFU/g. Considering all 287 Campylobacter-positive samples (above the detection limit), the distribution of germ counts was as follows: 65 samples in the range from above the detection limit to 100 CFU/g, 124 samples in the range from above 100 to 1,000 CFU/g, 72 samples in the range from above 1,000 to 10,000 CFU/g, and 26 samples with counts above 10,000 CFU/g.