GeoHealth Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Epidemiol Infect. 2010 Oct;138(10):1359-71. doi: 10.1017/S095026881000018X. Epub 2010 Feb 9.
In New Zealand Campylobacter infection rates have increased steadily since 1980, reaching a peak in 2003 (396/100,000 population). Compared to other nations, disease rates are unfavourably high (e.g. Australia 117/100,000 population, UK 85/100,000 population, USA 13/100,000 population). This ecological study investigated spatial variations in Campylobacter infection rates across New Zealand's Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs, n=73) for the period 1997-2005. Applying multiple linear regression, we examined whether geographical factors such as socio-demographic characteristics, climate, land use, water and the food environment were associated with local differences in the occurrence of Campylobacter infection rates. The results suggested significant variations in campylobacteriosis across TLAs (average annual rates ranging from 97 to 526/100,000 population), with higher rates in the South Island. Disease rates were associated with lower socio-economic deprivation (P<0.01), the proportion of the population aged 25-44 years (P<0.01) and fresh food outlet density (P<0.76). The results underline the role of area-level characteristics in explaining the spatial distribution of campylobacteriosis in New Zealand. In particular, the findings draw attention to the relatively unexplored role of fresh food outlets as a potential risk factor for increased Campylobacter notifications.
自 1980 年以来，新西兰的弯曲杆菌感染率稳步上升，在 2003 年达到峰值（396/100000 人口）。与其他国家相比，疾病发病率很高（例如，澳大利亚为 117/100000 人口，英国为 85/100000 人口，美国为 13/100000 人口）。这项生态研究调查了 1997-2005 年间新西兰领土地方当局（TLAs，n=73）中弯曲杆菌感染率的空间变化。应用多元线性回归，我们检查了地理因素（如社会人口特征、气候、土地利用、水和食品环境）是否与弯曲杆菌感染率的局部差异有关。结果表明，TLAs 之间的弯曲杆菌病存在显著差异（年平均发病率从 97 到 526/100000 人口不等），南岛的发病率更高。疾病发病率与较低的社会经济剥夺程度（P<0.01）、25-44 岁人口比例（P<0.01）和新鲜食品销售点密度（P<0.76）相关。研究结果强调了区域特征在解释新西兰弯曲杆菌病空间分布中的作用。特别是，研究结果表明，新鲜食品销售点作为弯曲杆菌病增加的潜在危险因素的作用尚待进一步研究。
