Biomedical subjects

R J Karlin

Publications and source records attributed to R J Karlin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1985

Waterborne disease in Colorado: three years' surveillance and 18 outbreaks.

The Colorado Department of Health conducted intensive surveillance for waterborne diseases during the three-year period July 1, 1980-June 30, 1983. Eighteen outbreaks of waterborne illness were investigated. Outbreaks involved from 15 to 1,500 ill persons. Giardia lamblia was confirmed or suspected as the agent in nine outbreaks, rotavirus in one, and no agent could be identified in eight. Seventeen outbreaks occurred on surface-water systems; none of these had adequate chemical pretreatment and filtration. Investigation of water systems exhibiting positive coliform results during the first year detected no outbreaks. Activities important to effective surveillance included educational outreach programs to local health agencies, physicians and the public, and the designation of one individual to whom all water-related public complaints and health department inquiries were directed.

Colorado↗

PubMed1984

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis remains a potentially lethal disease, although advances in therapy have lowered the morbidity and mortality substantially. Prevention, early diagnosis, and aggressive treatment offer the best hope for recovery.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

A community waterborne gastroenteritis outbreak: evidence for rotavirus as the agent.

A community waterborne nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in Eagle-Vail, Colorado in March 1981. Illness (defined as vomiting and/or diarrhea) was statistically associated with water consumption (chi 2 for linear trend = 7.07, p less than .005). Five of seven persons associated with the outbreak were infected with rotavirus as shown by virus detection or serological methods. Bacterial pathogens, Giardia lamblia, and Norwalk virus were excluded as responsible agents. Rotavirus should be looked for as a cause of waterborne outbreaks.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health risks from contaminated water: do class and race matter?

The impact of contaminants in water on minorities and economically disadvantaged persons was reviewed. Environmental legislation governing water was summarized as background information against which relevant studies were evaluated. The majority of the available information was anecdotal or case study and did not lend itself to making quantitative comparisons or analyses. However, the data did present certain trends that led to the conclusion that inequities concerning exposure to contaminants in water may exist. The following recommendations were made: current data bases should be analyzed and new data bases created to facilitate assessments of exposure to waterborne contaminants to all populations; an analysis of populations not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act should be undertaken; a survey should be conducted of the drinking water infrastructure and the results evaluated to identify any impacts to minorities and economically disadvantaged persons; the social, cultural and economic characteristics that influence human exposure to waterborne contaminants need to be identified; and better educational and community outreach programs need to be developed and implemented.

Adult↗