Aim: To estimate the financial impact of campylobacter infection in Canterbury and New Zealand in 1995.
Methods: The records of Canterbury Health Laboratories and hospital notes were searched to locate all inpatients admitted with campylobacteriosis in Christchurch in 1995 and to determine the costs involved. Further estimates of costs of outpatient care and costs due to lost productivity were made using local notification data. The computer database was searched for all cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome and reactive arthritis in 1995, and an estimate made of the cost attributable to campylobacter.
Results: There were 65 admissions for campylobacteriosis at a cost of $92,262. Notified cases in general practice were estimated to cost $61,911 and loss of work an additional $338,499. Of the eight admissions with Guillain-Barré syndrome in 1995, the estimated cost of cases due to campylobacter infection was $89,522. Inpatient costs of reactive arthritis were negligible. Overall costs in Canterbury in 1995 amounted to $582,194, with a corresponding national figure of $4.48 million. The true cost of campylobacter infection may be up to ten times higher.
Conclusions: The current high incidence of campylobacter infection has considerable financial impact on the community. Further public health and research initiatives to decrease incidence and associated costs are encouraged.