TY - JOUR
AU1 - Morin, Craig A.
AU2 - Roberts, Christine L.
AU3 - Mshar, Patricia A.
AU4 - Addiss, David G.
AU5 - Hadler, James L.
AB - Abstract Background: Cryptosporidiosis, an intestinal parasitic infection, has gained considerable media attention since a 1993 waterborne outbreak in Milwaukee, Wis, in which more than 400 000 persons became ill. However, the incidence of and risk factors for human cryptosporidiosis in the general US population are unknown. It has been suggested, but not documented, that physicians are generally unaware of the need to specifically request testing for this organism. Objective: To assess physician awareness of cryptosporidiosis and knowledge of laboratory testing for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a stratified random sample of Connecticut physicians. Specialties were limited to physicians in internal medicine, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, pediatrics, and family or general practice. Responses were compared among specialties. Results: While most physicians were aware that cryptosporidiosis causes watery diarrhea (range, 67%-98%), particularly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (>85% of all specialties), many did not know the symptoms or failed to identify other groups at increased risk. More than 75% of gastroenterologists, general or family practitioners, internists, and pediatricians never or rarely order diagnostic testing for Cryptosporidium even when their patients have symptoms consistent with cryptosporidiosis. More than 30% of physicians assumed Cryptosporidium testing was included in a standard ova and parasite examination. Conclusions: Cryptosporidiosis is likely to be unrecognized and underdiagnosed in Connecticut. This may occur because many physicians are unaware of cryptosporidiosis, unsure of the symptoms, do not test for it, or do not order the appropriate test. Unless there is more widespread use of specific tests, it will be difficult to evaluate specific preventive initiatives to limit the overall health impact of cryptosporidiosis.Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:1017-1022 References 1. Current WL, Garcia LS. Cryptosporidiosis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1991;4:305-395. 2. Juranek DD. Cryptosporidiosis: Sources of Infection and Guidelines for Prevention . Atlanta, Ga: Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1995;21:557-561. 3. Sarabia-Arce S, Salazar-Lindo E, Gilman RH, et al. Case-control study of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in Peruvian children hospitalized for diarrhea: possible association with malnutrition and nosocomial infection . Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1990;9:627-631. 4. Ungar BL. Cryptosporidium . In: Mandell GL, Douglas RG, Bennett JE, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone Inc; 1995:1-3. 5. Holley HP, Dover C. 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TI - What Do Physicians Know About Cryptosporidiosis?: A Survey of Connecticut Physicians
JF - Archives of Internal Medicine
DO - 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440300137012
DA - 1997-05-12
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/american-medical-association/what-do-physicians-know-about-cryptosporidiosis-a-survey-of-jVJegwpvuQ
SP - 1017
EP - 1022
VL - 157
IS - 9
DP - DeepDyve
ER -