Exposure to human-associated fecal indicators and self-reported illness among swimmers at recreational beaches: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fecal indicator bacteria used to assess illness risks in recreational waters (e.g., Escherichia coli, Enterococci) cannot discriminate among pollution sources. To address this limitation, human-associated Bacteroides markers have been proposed, but the risk of illness associated with the presence of these markers in recreational waters is unclear. Our objective was to estimate associations between human-associated Bacteroides markers in water and self-reported illness among swimmers at 6 U.S. beaches spanning 2003-2007.

Methods

We used data from a prospectively-enrolled cohort of 12,060 swimmers surveyed about beach activities and water exposure on the day of their beach visit. Ten to twelve days later, participants reported gastroinestinal, diarrheal, and respira

SUBMITTER: Napier MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5625766 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature