Escherichia coli Contamination across Multiple Environmental Compartments (Soil, Hands, Drinking Water, and Handwashing Water) in Urban Harare: Correlations and Risk Factors

pathotypes (i.e., enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic) have been identified among the pathogens most responsible for moderate-to-severe diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pathogenic are transmitted from infected human or animal feces to new susceptible hosts via environmental res...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2018-01, Vol.98 (3), p.803-813
Main Authors: Navab-Daneshmand, Tala, Friedrich, Max N D, Gächter, Marja, Montealegre, Maria Camila, Mlambo, Linn S, Nhiwatiwa, Tamuka, Mosler, Hans-Joachim, Julian, Timothy R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Cattle
Chickens - microbiology
Child
Cities
Colony Count, Microbial
Columbidae - microbiology
Diarrhea - epidemiology
Diarrhea - microbiology
Diarrhea - prevention & control
Dogs
Drinking water
Drinking Water - microbiology
E coli
Escherichia coli - classification
Escherichia coli - isolation & purification
Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology
Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology
Escherichia coli Infections - prevention & control
Family Characteristics
Female
Hand Disinfection - methods
Humans
Male
Pathogens
Rabbits
Risk factors
Soil Microbiology
Turtles - microbiology
Water Microbiology
Water Supply
Zimbabwe - epidemiology
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Summary:pathotypes (i.e., enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic) have been identified among the pathogens most responsible for moderate-to-severe diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pathogenic are transmitted from infected human or animal feces to new susceptible hosts via environmental reservoirs such as hands, water, and soil. Commensal , which includes nonpathogenic strains, are widely used as fecal bacteria indicator, with their presence associated with increased likelihood of enteric pathogens and/or diarrheal disease. In this study, we investigated contamination in environmental reservoirs within households ( = 142) in high-population density communities of Harare, Zimbabwe. We further assessed the interconnectedness of the environmental compartments by investigating associations between, and household-level risk factors for, contamination. From the data we collected, the source and risk factors for contamination are not readily apparent. One notable exception is the presence of running tap water on the household plot, which is associated with significantly less contamination of drinking water, handwashing water, and hands after handwashing. In addition, levels on hands after washing are significantly associated with handwashing water contamination, hand contamination before washing, and diarrhea incidence. Finally, we observed that animal ownership increases contamination in soil, and in soil are correlated with contamination on hands before washing. This study highlights the complexity of contamination in household environments within LMICs. More, larger, studies are needed to better identify sources and exposure pathways of -and enteric pathogens generally-to identify effective interventions.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0521