title: Hospital Impact After a Chemical Spill That Compromised the Potable Water Supply: West Virginia, January 2014.
abstract: In January 2014, a chemical spill of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol and propylene glycol phenyl ethers contaminated the potable water supply of approximately 300,000 West Virginia residents. To understand the spill's impact on hospital operations, we surveyed representatives from 10 hospitals in the affected area during January 2014. We found that the spill-related loss of potable water affected many aspects of hospital patient care (eg, surgery, endoscopy, hemodialysis, and infection control of Clostridium difficile). Hospital emergency preparedness planning could be enhanced by specifying alternative sources of potable water sufficient for hemodialysis, C. difficile infection control, and hospital processing and cleaning needs (in addition to drinking water). (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:621-624).
authors.affiliation: 1Epidemic Intelligence Service,Office of Public Health Scientific Services,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,Georgia.
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: 3Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services,West Virginia Bureau for Public Health,Charleston,West Virginia.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Del Rosario
authors.affiliation: 1Epidemic Intelligence Service,Office of Public Health Scientific Services,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,Georgia.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thomasson
authors.affiliation: 3Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services,West Virginia Bureau for Public Health,Charleston,West Virginia.
authors.forename: Danae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bixler
authors.affiliation: 6Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services,West Virginia Bureau for Public Health,Charleston,West Virginia.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haddy
authors.affiliation: 7Environmental Health Surveillance Branch,Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences,Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,Atlanta,Georgia.
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000592:standards; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000633:toxicity; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D006296:Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000633:toxicity; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D003510:Cyclohexanes; D060766:Drinking Water; C000607184:4-methylcyclohexanemethanol; D019946:Propylene Glycol
keywords: 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol; chemical spill; emergency response; hospital; potable water