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Readers' Forum: Public Health Implications Regarding the Epidemiology and Microbiology of Public Whirlpools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Stuart P. Castle
Stuart P. Castle*
Affiliation:
Office of Epidemiology, New Mexico Health and Environment Department, Santa Fe, New Mexico
*
Office of Epidemiology, New Mexico Health and Environment Department, PO Box 968, Southwest Plaza #1, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0968
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Abstract

High temperature bathing in hot tubs, spas and whirlpools poses four potential public health concerns: injury/death, disease transmission, possible teratogenic effects, and congestive heart failure or dysrhythmias for individuals with cardiac problems. Health departments need criteria before initiating environmental and epidemiologic investigations. These criteria must include severity of the disease and number of individuals possibly exposed. In addition, public health officials are obligated to define the magnitude of the problem, inform affected individuals and institute appropriate control measures. Optional information should be collected during an environmental and epidemiologic investigation to clarify the mechanisms of disease transmission and design control measures. The public health response to improving hot water bathing safety and sanitation should be directed at primary prevention. Educational efforts would be directed toward whirlpool operators, users and the medical community. Included should be a review of regulations addressing the construction and operation of public spas and whirlpools.

Type
Special Sections
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 6 , Issue 10 , October 1985 , pp. 418 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

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References

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