J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Mar;38(9):e67. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e67.

Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Campylobacter Enteritis Before and During COVID-19 in Korea

• Cho H
• Lee SH
• Lee JH
• Lee SJ
• Park SC

• KMID: 2540125
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e67

Abstract

Background
With the increase in meals at home due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pattern and incidence of enteritis seemed to change. Some types of enteritis, such as Campylobacter enteritis, appear to have increased. Our study aimed to evaluate the change in the trend of enteritis, especially Campylobacter enteritis, before COVID-19 (2016– 2019) and at the present time during COVID-19 in South Korea.
Methods
We analyzed data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. From 2016 to 2020, the International Classification of Diseases codes related to enteritis were examined to distinguish bacterial and viral enteritis and the trends of each were analyzed. The aspects of enteritis, before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, were compared.
Results
Both bacterial and viral enteritis declined in all age groups from 2016 to 2020 (P< 0.001). In 2020, the reduction rate of viral enteritis was higher than that of bacterial enteritis. However, unlike other causes of enteritis, even after COVID-19, Campylobacter enteritis increased in all age groups. An increase of Campylobacter enteritis in 2020 was particularly noticeable in children and adolescents. The prevalence of viral and bacterial enteritis was higher in urban areas than in rural areas (P < 0.001). Campylobacter enteritis was more common in the rural areas (P< 0.001).
Conclusion
Although the prevalence of bacterial and viral enteritis have decreased in COVID-19, Campylobacter enteritis has increased in all age groups and in rural areas compared to urban areas. Recognizing that the trend of Campylobacter enteritis before and during COVID-19 is helpful for future public health measures and interventions.

Keyword

COVID-19; Campylobacter; Enteritis; Epidemiology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Research algorithm using ICD-10 codes.ICD = International Classification of Diseases, HIRA = Health Insurance Review and Assessment.

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  Fig. 2 Annual prevalence of bacterial and viral enteritis by age group from 2016 to 2020.*P < 0.001.

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  Fig. 3 Annual prevalence among causes of bacterial enteritis by age groups. (A) Cases of bacterial enteritis in < 5 years of age, (B) 5–9 years of age, (C) 10–14 years of age, (D) 15–19 years of age, (E) > 19 years of age.

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  Fig. 4 Annual prevalence of viral and bacterial enteritis between urban and rural area.*P < 0.001.

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  Fig. 5 Annual prevalence of Campylobacter enteritis and Salmonella enteritis between urban and rural area.*P < 0.001.

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  Fig. 6 Mean length of stay of Campylobacter enteritis in Korea from 2016 to 2020 by age group.

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