1
|
Wolken M, Wang M, Schedler J, Campos RH, Ensor K, Hopkins L, Treangen T, Stadler LB. PreK-12 school and citywide wastewater monitoring of the enteric viruses astrovirus, rotavirus, and sapovirus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172683. [PMID: 38663617 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater monitoring is an efficient and effective way to surveil for various pathogens in communities. This is especially beneficial in areas of high transmission, such as preK-12 schools, where infections may otherwise go unreported. In this work, we apply wastewater disease surveillance using school and community wastewater from across Houston, Texas to monitor three major enteric viruses: astrovirus, sapovirus genogroup GI, and group A rotavirus. We present the results of a 10-week study that included the analysis of 164 wastewater samples for astrovirus, rotavirus, and sapovirus in 10 preK-12 schools, 6 wastewater treatment plants, and 2 lift stations using newly designed RT-ddPCR assays. We show that the RT-ddPCR assays were able to detect astrovirus, rotavirus, and sapovirus in school, lift station, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) wastewater, and that a positive detection of a virus in a school sample was paired with a positive detection of the same virus at a downstream lift station or wastewater treatment plant over 97 % of the time. Additionally, we show how wastewater detections of rotavirus in schools and WWTPs were significantly associated with citywide viral intestinal infections. School wastewater can play a role in the monitoring of enteric viruses and in the detection of outbreaks, potentially allowing public health officials to quickly implement mitigation strategies to prevent viral spread into surrounding communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Wolken
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS-519, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Julia Schedler
- Department of Statistics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS 138, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Roberto H Campos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS-519, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Katherine Ensor
- Department of Statistics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS 138, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Loren Hopkins
- Department of Statistics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS 138, Houston, TX, United States of America; Houston Health Department, 8000 N. Stadium Dr., Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Todd Treangen
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, United States of America; Department of Computer Science, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Lauren B Stadler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS-519, Houston, TX, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Venkatapuram P, Angulo-Lozano JC, Spinzi S, Brown-Johnson C, Phord-Toy A, Kan KM. Parental Knowledge, Beliefs, Practices, and Barriers Related to Children's Bladder Health in the School Environment. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2024. [PMID: 38711264 DOI: 10.1111/josh.13456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a set of common childhood problems. Community-level interventions that target behavioral change among children with LUTS can improve symptoms outside of the clinic environment. Parents, navigating the home and school environments, are key in supporting healthy bladder behaviors. Thus, we asked parents about their perceptions and barriers related to pediatric bladder health. METHODS English-speaking parents (n = 30) of children ages 5-10 years with and without LUTS were interviewed. Transcripts were coded iteratively by two independent coders using deductive and inductive approaches that emphasized consensus coding and peer debriefing. RESULTS Ninety-three percent of participants were women, 50% were 30-39 years old, and 60% held a graduate degree. Parents identified school-, classroom-, and child-based barriers to bladder health. These included the bathroom environment, restrictive policies for bathroom use, and anxiety on how and when to use the bathroom. CONCLUSIONS Addressing school-, classroom-, and child-based barriers is necessary to promote healthy bladder habits among children in the school environment and beyond. Recommended school-based interventions include bathroom use and sanitation policies that support students' voiding needs, teachers' professional development, and school readiness initiatives. Limitations include participation of English-speaking parents only.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pranaya Venkatapuram
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, 94304, CA
| | - Juan C Angulo-Lozano
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, 94304, CA
| | - Stav Spinzi
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, 94304, CA
| | - Cati Brown-Johnson
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road, Stanford, 94305, CA
| | - Ashley Phord-Toy
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, 94304, CA
| | - Kathleen M Kan
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, 94304, CA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Clayton DB. Commentary to personal hygiene, environmental conditions, and toilet use of children in primary schools: A cohort study. J Pediatr Urol 2023; 19:728. [PMID: 37599166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2023.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
|