弯曲杆菌感染在世界各地均有发现。在美国和其他发达国家/地区中,儿童弯曲杆菌感染的发病率最高,其次为青年人,而在老年患者中弯曲杆菌的发病率似乎也有所升高。[5]Gillespie IA, O’Brien SJ, Bolton FJ. Age patterns of persons with campylobacteriosis, England and Wales, 1990-2007. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15:2046-2048.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044522/pdf/09-0280_finalD.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19961698?tool=bestpractice.com男性的发病率略高于女性。在美国,成人比儿童的症状表现更为严重。[6]Skirrow MB. A demographic survey of campylobacter, salmonella, shigella infections in England: a public health laboratory service survey. Epidemiol Infect. 1987;99:647-657.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3428371?tool=bestpractice.com然而,在发展中国家/地区,早年的重复感染可导致获得性免疫和无症状的成人感染。[6]Skirrow MB. A demographic survey of campylobacter, salmonella, shigella infections in England: a public health laboratory service survey. Epidemiol Infect. 1987;99:647-657.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3428371?tool=bestpractice.com
弯曲杆菌肠炎在温带气候环境中呈季节性变化,夏季发病率升高,冬季则下降至基线水平。[6]Skirrow MB. A demographic survey of campylobacter, salmonella, shigella infections in England: a public health laboratory service survey. Epidemiol Infect. 1987;99:647-657.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3428371?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Kovats RS, Edwards SJ, Charron D, et al. Climate variability and campylobacter infection: an international study. Int J Biometeorol. 2005;49:207-214.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15565278?tool=bestpractice.com
弯曲杆菌感染较为常见,通常表现为单一、散发性病例,很少发生大规模感染。[1]Blaser MJ. Infections due to Campylobacter and related species. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, et al. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 17th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2008:965-967.
在 1996 年首次收集到的监测数据显示,弯曲杆菌感染性腹泻比任何其他病原体导致的腹泻更常见,且弯曲杆菌较沙门氏菌和志贺菌更为常见。然而,自 1996 年起,弯曲杆菌感染的发病率显著降低,这可能主要归功于有关食品安全处理措施的教育。[8]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food - 10 states, 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010; 59:418-422.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5914a2.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20395935?tool=bestpractice.com
2011 年,据估计在美国每年约有 130 万例弯曲杆菌胃肠炎,即年均病例不及美国人口的 1%。[9]Scallan E, Hoekstra RM, Angulo FJ, et al. Foodborne illness acquired in the United States: major pathogens. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17:7-15.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21192848?tool=bestpractice.com该发病率在农村人口会高 5-6 倍,可能是因摄入未消毒牛奶的情况更多。[8]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food - 10 states, 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010; 59:418-422.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5914a2.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20395935?tool=bestpractice.com在全世界很多地区中,包括亚洲、拉丁美洲和非洲,弯曲杆菌为相对常见的旅行者腹泻病因。[10]de la Cabada Bauche J, Dupont HL. New developments in traveler's diarrhea. Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2011;7:88-95.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3061023/pdf/GH-07-88.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21475415?tool=bestpractice.com