Food poisoning is pretty nasty when we inadvertently eat something spoiled. There are even occasions when we touch an infected utensil and fall ill. Now, scientists at the University of Oklahoma say that the most common bacteria can be transmitted through sex, like an STI.
Scientists have found that Campylobacter infection , the most common foodborne illness in the Western world, can also be transmitted through sexual contact. While it is not a serious infection in most cases, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It may even pose an additional risk to people with underlying health conditions.
Sex could transmit symptoms like diarrhea
With these findings, researchers are encouraging doctors to discuss the risks associated with sexual contact during a food poisoning episode with their patients . The study aims to understand whether Campylobacter infection can be transmitted through sexual contact. This research is important for public health and for doctors who discuss the risks associated with sexual contact with their patients.
“ Although Campylobacter infection is not usually a serious illness, it causes diarrhea, which can lead to people missing work, losing productivity, or even losing their jobs. It poses an additional risk to people with underlying health conditions . ”
Campylobacter infections typically occur when eating raw chicken , drinking unpasteurized milk , or consuming water contaminated by the feces of infected animals. However, these transmission methods do not explain all cases of infection, leading researchers to wonder if it could be transmitted in other ways.
In the study, the team focused on men who have sex with men, following an outbreak of Campylobacter infections in northern Europe among this group. Their analysis revealed that the rate of infection by this bacterium was 14 times higher in men who have sex with men than in control subjects.
Campylobacter is more transmissible than Salmonella
Two other bacteria were used for comparison in the study: Salmonella , which is mainly transmitted through infected food, and Shigella , which can be transmitted through food or sexual contact.
Although salmonella has a high infectious dose, meaning people must ingest a large amount before becoming ill, the other two have low infectious doses, making transmission easier. " That's an additional reason why we believe Campylobacter can be transmitted through sex, just like Shigella, because people can become infected when only small amounts of the bacteria are present ," said Dr. Kuhn.
The team believe that intestinal infections are likely to be much more common than the figures show, with only one in 20 infected people seeking medical advice.
While the infection is usually not serious for most people, for those with underlying immune conditions, such as arthritis, it can cause serious complications.