Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

The epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter.

Moore JE, Barton MD, Blair IS, Corcoran D, Dooley JS, Fanning S, Kempf I, Lastovica AJ, Lowery CJ, Matsuda M, McDowell DA, McMahon A, Millar BC, Rao JR, Rooney PJ, Seal BS, Snelling WJ, Tolba O

Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. jemoore@niphl.dnet.co.uk

Antibiotic resistance, particularly with the fluoroquinolones and macrolide antibiotics, has now emerged globally with thermophilic campylobacters, including Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli, giving rise to concerns about how these organisms have acquired such resistance characteristics, as well as consequences for human and animal treatment. This review examines (i) the clinical epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in human and animal thermophilic campylobacters, (ii) an update on resistance rates globally, (iii) surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in campylobacters originating from animals, particularly poultry, (iv) the role of the environment in the acquisition and transmission of antibiotic-resistant campylobacters, as well as (v) issues of biocide resistance in campylobacters.

Published 4 August 2006 in Microbes Infect, 8(7): 1955-66.
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