Key Points

In 2020, surveillance of Campylobacter infections confirmed the epidemiological and biological trends already observed in recent years:

• a predominance of the C. jejuni species;

• a higher number of cases and incidence among children;

• a predominance of infections among men, except among those aged 30 to 39;

• a seasonal peak during the summer months;

• high resistance to fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, which has remained stable in recent years;

• no notable increase in resistance rates for the six antibiotics routinely tested;

• the consumption of poultry as the primary food (identified or suspected) source of contamination in outbreaks of foodborne illness.

The number of Campylobacter strains recorded by the CNR has been increasing since 2013, the year online data entry was implemented by the network’s laboratories. This increase could reflect a rise in Campylobacter infections in France. However, this increase in the number of strains must be considered within the context of the surveillance system’s specific characteristics. Several factors, such as increased activity by network laboratories or increased ordering of stool cultures, could lead to an increase in the number of isolates and reports over time. The implementation of multiplex PCR in many laboratories has also facilitated the detection of Campylobacter sp. in stool samples.

The public health context related to the COVID-19 pandemic does not appear to have had an impact on the surveillance data. A decrease in the number of strains compared to previous years was observed only in March–April 2020, corresponding to the period of the first lockdown. This decrease appears to reflect reduced use of healthcare services (medical consultations, laboratory tests) during this period, but could also indicate a decrease in incidence linked to public health restrictions.