What can be done to prevent Campylobacter infection?
Some simple food handling practices can help prevent Campylobacter infections.
Cook all poultry products thoroughly. Make sure that the meat is cooked throughout (no longer pink) and any juices run clear. All poultry should be cooked to reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
If you are served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.
Wash hands with soap before preparing food
Wash hands with soap after handling raw foods of animal origin and before touching anything else.
Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by using separate cutting boards for foods of animal origin and other foods and by thoroughly cleaning all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw food of animal origin.
Do not drink unpasteurized milk or untreated surface water.
Make sure that persons with diarrhea, especially children, wash their hands carefully and frequently with soap to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Wash hands with soap after contact with pet feces.
Physicians who diagnose campylobacteriosis and clinical laboratories that identify this organism should report their findings to the local health department. If many cases occur at the same time, it may mean that an outbreak has occurred in which many people were exposed to a common contaminated food item or water source. If this food or water is still available, more people could get infected. Public health departments investigate outbreaks to identify the source so that action can be taken to prevent more cases.