Dirty Public Pool Determined AS CAUSE OF OUTBREAK BY JOE TRUSTY
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hen the summer months arrive the hot weather has families rushing to their local public pool. One incident recorded by the CDC shows how contaminated water and a lack of oversight may spoil the enjoyment. Last summer, a public pool in Pennsylvania experienced an incident where over a dozen children became gravely ill from two forms of bacteria, E. Coli and C. Difficile. An investigation showed that
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children who had swam in the pool and had ingested water were affected roughly 48 hours after exposure. Experts say that normally bacteria like E. coli and C. difficile. find their way into bodies of water from swimmers who experience diarrhea, although there are studies that have shown that bacteria can enter a water source and proliferate in many other ways. There were 15 cases (9 confirmed, 6 probable) in people aged 4–14 years; 10 patients were male.
POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 3
All of the individuals reported swimming at the pool on May 31, 2021, the seasonal opening date, and had no additional common exposures. The day of the incident, the total number of pool guests was unknown. Symptoms began appearing within a few hours to as long as several days. In total, 13 patients wound up seeking medical attention, and 6 were admitted to the hospital. C. difficile antibiotics were administered to 4 people. Luckily, in this particular instance, there were no cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare but serious illness that affects the kidneys and prevents blood clotting in those who’ve been infected.
