Emergency Department Visits for Acute Gastrointestinal Illness After a Major Water Pipe Break in 2010.

ABSTRACT:

Background

When a water pipe breaks, contaminants can enter the drinking water system and cause waterborne illnesses such as acute gastrointestinal illness. In May 2010, a major water pipe broke near Boston, MA, and a boil water order was issued to nearly two million residents.

Methods

Using a case-crossover study design, we examined the association between the water pipe break and subsequent emergency department visits for acute gastrointestinal illness. We identified cases of illness according to ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes and selected control dates 2 weeks before and after each case. We estimated the risk of visiting the emergency department during the 0-3 and 4-7 days after the water pipe break using conditional logistic regression models.

Results

Our analysis inclu

SUBMITTER: Lin CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10615350 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature