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Wiley InterScience | |||||||||||
  Journal of Travel MedicineVolume 11 Issue 1, Pages 27 - 33 Published Online: 8 Mar 2006 © 2010 International Society of Travel Medicine Official publication of the International Society of Travel Medicine
Abstract | References | Full Text: PDF (Size: 181K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking  Influence of Hygiene on Gastrointestinal Illness among Wilderness Backpackers This work was financially supported by William Fogey, MD. Apart from this, the authors had no financial or other conflicts of interest to disclose. Copyright 2004 by the International Society of Travel Medicine ABSTRACTBackground Gastrointestinal illness is a common risk for wilderness travelers, even among those who consistently disinfect their water, yet the importance of hygiene has not been characterized. Methods In a prospective surveillance study, 334 Appalachian Trail backpackers who hiked for at least 7 days in 1997 were interviewed. Upon completion of their hike, a written questionnaire was sent, addressing illnesses, water disinfection methods, and hygiene. Hygiene inquiries focused on the frequency of behaviors concerning handwashing and cleaning cookware. Results Two hundred and eighty backpackers compiled 38, 940 wilderness exposure days, with 56% (n= 156) experiencing diarrhea. Diarrhea correlated with the frequency of drinking untreated surface water (relative risk (RR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–4.7%, p = .03). Of those who consistently treated water, 45% suffered from diarrhea, whereas 69% of those who inconsistently treated water experienced diarrhea (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53–0.81%, p = .001). Hikers practicing "good hygiene", defined as handwashing postdefecation and cleaning cookware routinely, were less likely to ever experience diarrhea (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.22–0.99, p = .04). Routine handwashing with soap and water after both urination and defecation reduced the risk of diarrhea (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.04–0.31%, p < .001). In a case-control analysis of those experiencing diarrhea, decreased diarrhea was associated with routine consumption of multivitamins (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37–0.66%, p < .001), routine cleaning of utensils with warm, soapy water (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20–0.74%, p < .01), and postdefecation handwashing with soap and water (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.93%, p = .006). Conclusions Lack of hygiene, specifically handwashing and cleaning of cookware, should be recognized as a significant contributor to wilderness gastrointestinal illness. Hikers should routinely disinfect water and avoid untreated surface water. | 
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