학술논문

Infection risks of city canal swimming events in the Netherlands in 2016.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Hintaran AD; Public Health Service Utrecht region, Zeist, the Netherlands.; Kliffen SJ; Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Preparedness and Response Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.; Lodder W; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.; Pijnacker R; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.; Brandwagt D; Public Health Service Utrecht region, Zeist, the Netherlands.; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.; van der Bij AK; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, the Netherlands.; Siedenburg E; Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Sonder GJB; Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Fanoy EB; Public Health Service Utrecht region, Zeist, the Netherlands.; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.; Joosten RE; Public Health Service Utrecht region, Zeist, the Netherlands.; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Preparedness and Response Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
Source
Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
Introduction: Swimming events in city canals are gaining popularity in the Netherlands, even though canal water is usually not officially designated for recreational use. Knowledge regarding the risk of infection after swimming in canals is limited. An outbreak was reported in 2015 following a canal swimming event in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Local governments were concerned about the health risks of such events. In order to assess the safety of canal swimming, the Public Health Service (PHS) prospectively investigated two city canal swimming events in 2015. In 2016, we repeated this study, aiming to prospectively determine the risks of infection during two urban swimming events, the Utrecht SingelSwim 2016 (USS) and the Amsterdam City Swim 2016 (ACS).
Methods: We sent online questionnaires to 271 USS participants and 2697 ACS participants, concerning personal characteristics, symptoms, and exposure. Participants were asked to forward the questionnaire to three relatives, i.e., non-exposed. We analyzed water samples from the USS venue taken during the event, as well as stool samples of USS participants with acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI). AGI was defined as diarrhea and/or vomiting within seven days after the event. We calculated adjusted risk ratios (RR) for AGI in the exposed group compared with non-exposed respondents, using binomial regression models.
Results: The questionnaire was returned by 160 USS participants (exposed) (59%) and 40 non-exposed relatives. Five percent of the exposed (n = 17) and 3% of non-exposed (n = 1) reported AGI (RR = 1.69; 95% CI: 0.23-12.46). Norovirus genogroup II was detected in two of six USS water samples and in none of the three stool samples. In one of three stool samples, rotavirus was detected. The questionnaire was returned by 1169 ACS participants (exposed) (43%) and 410 non-exposed relatives. Six percent of the exposed (n = 71) and 1% of non-exposed (n = 5) reported AGI (RR 4.86; 95% CI: 1.98-11.97).
Conclusion: Results of the ACS event showed a higher risk for AGI among the exposed, indicating that participants of events in urban canals in the Netherlands could be at a higher risk for AGI than those not participating. The inconclusive results from the USS are likely due to the small sample size. Swimming in non-monitored open water can bring health risks and more knowledge about environmental and human risk factors helps reduce the risk by being able to more specifically advise organizations and governments.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.