An ecological study of campylobacteriosis risk factors in Tennessee

Additional Authors

Emmanuel Angmorteh Mensah, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN Megan Quinn, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN Philip Scheuerman, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN Walid Alali, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Abstract

Background: Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1.5 million cases of campylobacteriosis occurs annually in the U.S. In Tennessee, campylobacteriosis incidence increased gradually from about 9 per 100,000 people in 2020 to about 13 per 100,000 people in 2022. Ecological studies are useful when exposure data are available at the aggregate level rather than individual-case level. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between campylobacteriosis cases and ecological risk factors in Tennessee. Methods: The study was based on CDC FoodNet data in Tennessee with 7876 sporadic cases. Frequency distribution of the sociodemographic characteristics and yearly incidence of the disease were determined. The data were then aggregated at the zip code level for the ecological analysis. Bivariate and multivariate negative binomial regressions were used to determine factors associated with number of cases. Results: The majority of cases were male (52.85%). The median age was 44 years and 83% of the cases were racially white. About 62% of the persons infected with campylobacteriosis were hospitalized. The disease incidence in 2022 was the highest (18.44/100,000) and lowest in 2014 (13.35/100,000). The risk factors for campylobacteriosis include increasing percentage of whites in a zip code (IRR=1.0146; 95% CI: 1.0081–1.0211), increasing population density (IRR=1.0006; 95% CI: 1.0002–1.0009), the presence of chicken operation (IRR=1.2895; 95% CI: 1.0232–1.6150) and number of well water in a zip code area (IRR=1.0002; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0004). Conclusion: The increase in the disease incidence from the least incidence in 2014 to the highest in 2022 suggest that intensified public health interventions will be required to lower the incidence trend. Furthermore, measures must be implemented to mitigate the risk associated with private well water safety and contaminated of water sources by chicken operation run-off. Hence, mitigation strategies aiming at reducing the pathogen transmission routes are needed.

Start Time

16-4-2025 1:30 PM

End Time

16-4-2025 2:30 PM

Room Number

311

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Presentation Subtype

Grad/Comp Orals

Presentation Category

Health

Faculty Mentor

Walid Alali

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Apr 16th, 1:30 PM Apr 16th, 2:30 PM

An ecological study of campylobacteriosis risk factors in Tennessee

311

Background: Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1.5 million cases of campylobacteriosis occurs annually in the U.S. In Tennessee, campylobacteriosis incidence increased gradually from about 9 per 100,000 people in 2020 to about 13 per 100,000 people in 2022. Ecological studies are useful when exposure data are available at the aggregate level rather than individual-case level. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between campylobacteriosis cases and ecological risk factors in Tennessee. Methods: The study was based on CDC FoodNet data in Tennessee with 7876 sporadic cases. Frequency distribution of the sociodemographic characteristics and yearly incidence of the disease were determined. The data were then aggregated at the zip code level for the ecological analysis. Bivariate and multivariate negative binomial regressions were used to determine factors associated with number of cases. Results: The majority of cases were male (52.85%). The median age was 44 years and 83% of the cases were racially white. About 62% of the persons infected with campylobacteriosis were hospitalized. The disease incidence in 2022 was the highest (18.44/100,000) and lowest in 2014 (13.35/100,000). The risk factors for campylobacteriosis include increasing percentage of whites in a zip code (IRR=1.0146; 95% CI: 1.0081–1.0211), increasing population density (IRR=1.0006; 95% CI: 1.0002–1.0009), the presence of chicken operation (IRR=1.2895; 95% CI: 1.0232–1.6150) and number of well water in a zip code area (IRR=1.0002; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0004). Conclusion: The increase in the disease incidence from the least incidence in 2014 to the highest in 2022 suggest that intensified public health interventions will be required to lower the incidence trend. Furthermore, measures must be implemented to mitigate the risk associated with private well water safety and contaminated of water sources by chicken operation run-off. Hence, mitigation strategies aiming at reducing the pathogen transmission routes are needed.