This bacterium is the most common pathogen on eggs and chicken meat

Federal Institute clarifies the bacterium and gives hygiene tips

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has recently established the state of knowledge on the occurrence of Campylobacter bacteria on chicken eggs and gives tips on how to protect themselves. Eggs are among the most popular foods. Every year, people in Germany consume almost 20 billion of them. This results in a consumption of 235 eggs per year per person. Accordingly, scandals such as the finding of the insecticide fipronil and other health aspects around the egg also affect a large number of individuals. However, the most common bacterial pathogen in chicken eggs is the largely unknown bacterium Campylobacter.

As the BfR reports in the current risk assessment, the common Campylobacter bacterium can cause abdominal pain, fever and sometimes bloody diarrhea. Medizinsch then one speaks of an enteritis (intestinal inflammation). The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports around 70,000 cases of Campylobacter enteritis every year. The BfR suspects an additional considerable number of unreported cases. Most of the bacteria comes from the chicken intestine, which the bacterium can not harm.

Chickens with Campylobacter bacteria may lurk in unhatched chicken meat and fecal remains on the chicken eggshell. (Image: Jacek Chabraszewski / fotolia.com)

Transmission to humans

In many cases, these bacteria get into the human organism through insufficiently cooked chicken meat. Also an infection over chicken eggs is possible, however less improbable than over the meat consumption. Especially on the bacteria-containing feces, which sticks to some eggs, one can become infected.

About Campylobacter

The Campylobacter genus belongs to the helically wound bacteria. They live primarily in the intestine of warm-blooded animals, preferably in poultry intestines. In most animals, the germ does not cause any disease. In humans, however, the pathogen can lead to infectious bowel inflammation. Campylobacter enteritis is notifiable under the Infection Protection Act. Typical symptoms are:

• stomach pain,
• Diarrhea (sometimes bloody diarrhea),
• fever,
• Nausea and vomiting,
• in extreme cases also autoimmune diseases such as rheumatic arthritis.

How can the risk of infection with chicken eggs be minimized??

The BfD advises all consumers after contact with raw chicken eggs to always thoroughly clean the kitchen utensils with hot water and detergent, as well as to wash their hands thoroughly after touching the eggs. For raw rice, only cleaned chicken eggs should be used, and when whipping, care should be taken to ensure that the contents of the ice do not come into contact with the skin. If you want to blow out chicken eggs, you should not make any direct oral contact with the eggshell.

Federal institute criticizes the manufacturers

The BfR also urges manufacturers and transport companies to be more hygienic. "In the production and packaging of chicken eggs a fakal contamination of the eggshell should be avoided at all costs," reads the risk assessment. In addition, raw chicken eggs should always be stored and processed separately from other foods.

Good kitchen hygiene reduces the risk

"Good kitchen hygiene can further reduce the risk of infection from chicken eggs," says Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR, in a press release. Kitchen utensils and hands should be thoroughly cleaned after contact with raw eggs. Anyone who heats food well enough with eggs will reliably kill Campylobacter and other pathogens, the expert said.

The right way to handle chicken

Campylobacter bacteria find optimal growth conditions between 30 and 42 degrees Celsius. Although frozen meat prevents the growth process, it does not kill the bacterium. Heat on the other hand makes the bacteria out of the cook. Well-roasted or cooked chicken, where all the meat (including the inside) reaches a temperature above 70 degrees Celsius for at least two minutes, kills both Campylobacter and other pathogens and is considered harmless. (Vb)