You are here:
THE USE OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF IN-HOME DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TO STUDY ENDEMIC WATERBORNE DISEASE
Citation:
Wade, T. J., R L. Calderon, AND J. M. Colford. THE USE OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF IN-HOME DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TO STUDY ENDEMIC WATERBORNE DISEASE. Presented at U.S. EPA's Research on Microorganisms in Drinking Water Workshop, Cinn., Ohio, August 5-7, 2003.
Description:
Randomized trials of water treatment have demonstrated the ability of simple water treatments to significantly reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses in developing countries where drinking water is of poor quality. Whether or not additional treatment at the tap reduces enteric illness in areas where water is treated to a higher degree has not been fully resolved. Randomized trials of in home water treatment have been conducted to determine how much enteric illness, if any, is transmitted through a public water system and to determine whether or not current water treatment practices adequately protect public health.
The goal of this paper is to review randomized trials of in home water treatment conducted in developed countries, dicusss key study design characteristics and sources of bias, and present preliminary data from several ongoing trials. The advantages and limitations of this type of study design will also be presented.