Campylobacter enteritis associated with foodborne transmission.

During an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness at a boys summer camp in Connecticut in June-July 1980, Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 16 of 41 ill persons but from none of 63 controls (P less than 0.001). When the indirect fluorescent antibody assay was used, cross-titering serum and isolates from five patients showed all isolates to be identical. Lack of serologic response in culture-negative ill persons suggested that a second etiologic agent may have been involved. Ten convalescent carriers treated with erythromycin had clearance of Campylobacter from their stools within 72 hours. Among 26 camp staff members affected, two clusters of illness were seen, each one week after a birthday party, one party on June 26 and the other on July 2. Eating cake at the parties was significantly associated with illness (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.019, respectively). Eating an edge or corner piece with more icing at one party was associated with illness (p = 0.024). The source of the contamination of the icing was not found. None of 15 ill campers had eaten birthday cake. Although rates of eating salad were not significantly different when ill campers were matched with healthy campers, the relative risk associated with eating salad was 5. Campylobacter was isolated from the hands of an infected staff member who, while ill, prepared salad for the campers.