Health burden in the Netherlands due to infection with thermophilic Campylobacter spp.

Infection with thermophilic Campylobacter spp. usually leads to an episode of acute gastroenteritis. Occasionally, more severe diseases may be induced , notably Guillain-Barre syndrome and reactive arthritis. For some, the dis ease may be fatal. We have integrated available data in one public health m easure, the Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY). DALYs are the sum of Year s of Life Lost by premature mortality and Years Lived with Disability, weig hted with a factor between 0 and 1 for the severity of illness. The mean he alth burden of campylobacter-associated illness in the Dutch population in the period 1990-5 is estimated as 1400 (90% CI 900-2000) DALY per year. The main determinants of health burden are acute gastroenteritis (440 DALY), g astroenteritis related mortality (310 DALY) and residual symptoms of Guilla in-Barre syndrome (340 DALY). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that altern ative model assumptions produced results in the above-mentioned range.