Campylobacter data 2009 to 2018
Updated 4 April 2024
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Main points for 2018
The 2018 report shows that:
- the number of reported Campylobacter cases in England increased from 52,818 cases in 2017 to 56,278 cases in 2018, an increase of 3,460 cases
- the region that reported the highest number of Campylobacter laboratory reports was the South East with 11,516 reports
- overall, 56% of Campylobacter laboratory confirmed cases in England were male
- the section of the population with the highest number of laboratory reports was the 50 to 59 year age group
- June was the peak month for Campylobacter reporting in 2018
Campylobacter laboratory data 2009 to 2018
All data presented in this report is correct as of 20 January 2022. This report covers all Campylobacter species in England.
Annual data 2009 to 2018
Table 1 and Figure 1 show the trend of Campylobacter laboratory reports in England from 2009 to 2018.
Table 1. Annual laboratory reports of Campylobacter in England from 2009 to 2018
| Year | Number of laboratory reports | Laboratory reports per 100,000 population |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 53,225 | 101.97 |
| 2010 | 59,284 | 112.62 |
| 2011 | 60,261 | 113.47 |
| 2012 | 61,146 | 114.31 |
| 2013 | 55,614 | 103.25 |
| 2014 | 58,496 | 107.69 |
| 2015 | 51,817 | 94.58 |
| 2016 | 49,077 | 88.80 |
| 2017 | 52,818 | 94.96 |
| 2018 | 56,278 | 100.54 |
Figure 1. Annual laboratory reports of Campylobacter in England from 2009 to 2018
Regional data
Table 2 displays the number of Campylobacter laboratory reports per region in 2018. Regional classification is based on place of residence of reported cases and classified using NUTS1 (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics, level 1) codes.
Table 2. Regional distribution of laboratory reports of Campylobacter in England 2018
| Region | Laboratory reports |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 4,543 |
| East of England | 6,205 |
| London | 5,555 |
| North East | 3,402 |
| North West | 6,019 |
| South East | 11,516 |
| South West | 7,235 |
| West Midlands | 5,901 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 5,902 |
Age and sex distribution in 2018
Figure 2 shows the age and sex distribution of Campylobacter laboratory reports in England during 2018. For this graph, 46 laboratory reports were excluded where case age or sex was unknown.
Figure 2. Age and sex distribution of laboratory reports of Campylobacter in England in 2018 (n=56,232)
Seasonal variation in 2018
Figure 3 shows the seasonal trend of laboratory reporting for all Campylobacter species in England during 2018 by month. In 2018, the number of laboratory reports per month started to increase earlier and peaked earlier (June) when compared to the median of the previous 5 years (2013 to 2017), where the peak in laboratory reporting occurred in July.
Figure 3. Seasonality of laboratory reports of all Campylobacter species in England in 2018
Campylobacter typing in 2018
In 2018, 20% of Campylobacter samples (n=11,054) in England were speciated by frontline laboratories. The majority of the speciated Campylobacter isolates were Campylobacter jejuni, 17.8% (n=9,992) followed by Campylobacter coli, 1.8% (n=1,017).
Foodborne outbreak data in 2018
Table 3. Foodborne outbreaks of Campylobacter reported in England [Note 1] in 2018.
| Agent | Total affected | Laboratory confirmed | Hospitalised [Note 2] | Deaths [Note 2] | Setting | Food description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campylobacter sp. | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Unknown |
| Campylobacter sp. | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Chicken liver crostini |
| Campylobacter sp. | 43 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Chicken liver pâté |
| Campylobacter sp. | 32 | 6 | 2 | 0 | Institutional catering | Duck liver pâté |
| Campylobacter sp. | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Lambs liver |
| Campylobacter sp. | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Chicken liver pâté |
| Campylobacter sp. | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Restaurant, café, pub, hotel or catering service | Chicken liver pâté |
[Note 1] Number of cases is for cases resident in England and Wales as eFOSS (electronic foodborne and non-foodborne gastrointestinal outbreak surveillance system) covers outbreak surveillance for both countries.
[Note 2] Clinical outcome not known for all cases. This only represents cases who have hospitalisations or deaths reported to national surveillance.
Data sources
This report was produced using data derived from 2 data sources. The first is the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly Public Health England (PHE), Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS). This is a live laboratory reporting system therefore numbers are subject to change. In 2014, PHE upgraded the laboratory reporting system so direct comparisons between data reported from the previous system (LabBase2) and the new system (SGSS) may require cautious interpretation.
The second data source is the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) (GIFSOH) division’s eFOSS, which is also a live laboratory reporting system and therefore numbers are subject to change.
Data caveats
This report was produced using data for England only, therefore the number of Campylobacter laboratory reports published in previous annual reports will be higher than those included in this report.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to:
- the microbiologists and local authorities, health protection and environmental health specialists who have contributed data and reports to national surveillance systems
- the epidemiologists and information officers who have worked on the national surveillance of intestinal infectious diseases
- colleagues in the Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit (GBRU) for providing the Reference Laboratory Services and laboratory surveillance functions and expertise
- UKHSA (formerly PHE) Information Management Department for maintenance and quality assurance of UKHSA national surveillance databases used for Gastrointestinal Infections (GI) pathogen surveillance at the national level
- UKHSA (formerly PHE) Local Public Health Laboratories and Food Water and Environmental Microbiology Services for providing a surveillance function for GI pathogens and testing of food and environmental samples routinely and during outbreak investigations
- all colleagues who have investigated and reported outbreaks to the eFOSS