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Diarrhoea prevention in Bolivia through point-of-use water treatment and safe storage: a promising new strategy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1999

R. E. QUICK
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
L. V. VENCZEL
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
E. D. MINTZ
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
L. SOLETO
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
J. APARICIO
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
M. GIRONAZ
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
L. HUTWAGNER
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
K. GREENE
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
C. BOPP
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
K. MALONEY
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
D. CHAVEZ
Affiliation:
Villa Cochabamba Health Center, Montero, Bolivia
M. SOBSEY
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
R. V. TAUXE
Affiliation:
Foodborne and Diarrhoeal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Abstract

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A novel water quality intervention that consists of point-of-use water disinfection, safe storage and community education was field tested in Bolivia. A total of 127 households in two periurban communities were randomized into intervention and control groups, surveyed and the intervention was distributed. Monthly water quality testing and weekly diarrhoea surveillance were conducted. Over a 5-month period, intervention households had 44% fewer diarrhoea episodes than control households (P=0·002). Infants <1 year old (P=0·05) and children 5–14 years old (P=0·01) in intervention households had significantly less diarrhoea than control children. Campylobacter was less commonly isolated from intervention than control patients (P=0·02). Stored water in intervention households was less contaminated with Escherichia coli than stored water in control households (P<0·0001). Intervention households exhibited less E. coli contamination of stored water and less diarrhoea than control households. This promising new strategy may have broad applicability for waterborne disease prevention.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press