Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. fetus subsp. jejuni
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. fetus subsp. jejuni
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Campylobacter enteritis, Vibrionic enteritis, Traveller’s diarrhea
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative spiral and S-shaped bacteria; darting motility; microaerophilic; will grow only under reduced oxygen tension; optimal growth temperature is at 42C
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Acute enteric disease of variable severity; diarrhea, abdominal pain, malaise, fever, nausea and vomiting; prolonged illness in up to 20% of patients; blood in association with mucus and WCBs present in liquid of foul smelling stools; typhoidal-like syndrome, reactive arthritis may occur ; rare cases of febrile convulsions, Guillain-Barré syndrome and meningitis
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Important cause of diarrheal illness worldwide in all age groups (5-14% of diarrhea in world); common source outbreaks most often associated with foods, unpasteurized milk and unchlorinated water; largest number of sporadic cases in temperate climates occur in warmer months
HOST RANGE: Humans, animals and birds
INFECTIOUS DOSE: 500 organisms or less (by ingestion)
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By ingestion of organisms in undercooked food or in unpasteurized milk or water; from contact with infected pets (puppies and kittens), farm animals or infected infants; possibly from cross-contamination from these sources to foods eaten uncooked or poorly refrigerated
INCUBATION PERIOD: 2-5 days, with a range of 1-10 days; dose-dependent
COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable throughout course of infection; individuals not treated with antibiotics excrete organisms for as long as 2-7 weeks; chronic carrier state is unusual
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Animals – swine, cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, other pets and rodents; birds, including poultry
ZOONOSIS: Yes – chronic carrier state established and animals constitute primary source of infection
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to erythromycin, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides
DRUG RESISTANCE: Single- and multiple-drug resistant strains have been reported
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, 2% glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde; commonly used disinfectants for drinking water treatment (0.1 mg/l of free chlorine, and 1 mg/l of monochloramine) are sufficient to kill C. jejuni
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour); highly sensitive to gamma irradiation and UV radiation
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Will survive in moist environments (including droplets), especially at lower temperatures, but cannot tolerate drying; Feces – up to 9 days; milk – 3 days; glass slides – 24 hours; water – 2 to 5 days
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirmation by isolation from stool
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Rehydration and electrolyte replacement; short antibiotic course for severe or prolonged illness
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 2 reported cases of laboratory-acquired infection
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, blood
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion, parenteral inoculation
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Infected laboratory animals
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities with clinical materials known or potentially infected and cultures; animals biosafety level 2 facilities and practices
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when contact with infected materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent handwashing
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: November 1999
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright © Health Canada, 2001
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