Clostridium and Cryptosporidium outbreak linked to a splash pad
De Andrés, Anna (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Millet, Joan Pau (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Álvarez-Bruned, L. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Palma, David (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Gómez-Gutiérrez, Anna (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Gallés, P. (Public Health Department of Reus City Council)
Sabaté, Sara (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Álvarez, G. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Rodriguez, Virginia (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Cornejo-Sánchez, Thais (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Rius i Gibert, Maria Cristina (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Background:. Splash pads for recreational purposes are widespread. Using these pads can pose a health risk if they lack installation regulation and water quality supervision. Our aim was to describe a waterborne disease outbreak caused by Clostridium perfringens and Cryptosporidium spp. in a Barcelona district and the measures taken for its control. Methods:. On August 2018, 71 cases of acute gastroenteritis were detected, affecting people who used a splash pad or were in contact with a user. Microbiological and environmental investigations were carried out. A descriptive analysis of the sample and Poisson regression models adjusted for age and sex were performed, obtaining frequencies, median values, and adjusted prevalence ratios with their 95% confidence intervals. Results: The median age of the cases was 6. 7 years, 27 (38%) required medical care, and three (4. 2%) were hospitalized. The greater the number of times a person entered the area, the greater the number of symptoms and their severity. Nineteen (76%) of the 25 stool samples collected from cases showed the presence of one or both pathogens. Environmental investigations showed deficiencies in the facilities and identified the presence of both species in the splash pad. Health education and hygiene measures were carried out, and 14 days after the closure of the facilities, no more cases related to the pad were recorded. Conclusions:. Specific regulations are needed on the use of splash pads for recreational purposes. Until these regulations are in place, these types of facility should comply with the regulations that apply to swimming pools and spas, including those related to the design of the tanks, water recirculation systems, and adequate disinfection systems.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Clostridium perfringens ; Cryptosporidium spp ; AGE ; Epidemiological surveillance ; Epidemiology ; Outbreak ; Splash pad ; Spray park ; Walkable fountains ; Waterborne disease outbreak
Published in:	BMC public health, Vol. 24 Núm. 1 (december 2024) , p. 1578, ISSN 1471-2458

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18870-7
PMID: 38867266

8 p, 1.2 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles