Phytotherapy and Prevention of Campylobacter

Abstract

Since 2005, campylobacteriosis become the most important gastrointestinal infectious disease in Europe. The disease affects especially infants under 4 years of age, causing primarily gastroenteric symptoms but also responsible of different extra intestinal pathologies. The most frequent way of infection is considered to be related to contaminated poultry meat consumption. Prevention relies on general hygienic measures. Of outmost importance is the reduction of bacterial burden in raw meat, to ensure a radical decrease of clinical forms. Phytotherapy might represent a sustainable prevention strategy for the achievement of such objective.