Epidemiology Research Paper 2022

1
Epidemiology
Part A
Legionnaires’ disease case-finding algorithm, attack rates, and risk factors
during a residential outbreak among older adults: an environmental and cohort
study
Question Yes No Cant tell Comments
Did the study
address a
clearly
focused issue?
✓
The issue is an
outbreak of a
Legionnaires’
disease in an
residential
outbreak.
Was the cohort
recruited in
an acceptable
way?
✓ the cohort was
identified from
a residential
complex that
had an
outbreak of
Legionnaires’
disease and
had the
average of 70
Was the
exposure
accurately
measured to
minimise bias?
✓ No such
objective
measurements
have been
mentioned in
the research
article.
Was the
outcome
accurately
measured to
minimise bias?
✓ Yes, the
outcome was
accurately
measured and
well tabulated.
Have the
authors
identified
all important
confounding
factors?
✓ The author
could have
included
factors other
immunological
factors that
could have
made some
people more
prone to the
disease than
others.
Have they
taken account
of
the
confounding
factors in the
design and/or
analysis?
✓
Was the follow
up of
subjects
✓ The follow up
from the
research study

2
Epidemiology
complete
enough?
was related to
the use of
chlorine in a
disinfectant for
killing the
bacteria that
grows in water
bodies within
the suitable
temperatures
range.
What are the
results of this
study?
the result
indicates the
possible reason
behind the
outbreak of the
disease in the
apartments.
the water
facility in the
area was
polluted and
was
unchecked.
How precise
are the results?
the results are
not very
precise as
there could be
many other
contributing
factors that
could have
promoted the
outbreak of the
disease.
Do you believe
the results?
✓ the result is
true but there
could be other
contributing
factors that
were not
discussed.
Can the results
be applied to
the local
population?
✓ he result can
be applied to
keep more
focused check
on the potable
water
resources of
the locality.
Do the results
of this study fit
with other
available
evidence?
✓ other studies
focusing on the
outbreak in the
complex in
Baltimore also
dictate similar
results.
What are the
implications of
✓ The
implications of

3
Epidemiology
this study for
practice?
the study are
fit for the local
environment of
the apartment.
But for more
evidence is
required being
universally
applicable.

4
Epidemiology
Legionellosis associated with recreational waters: a systematic review of cases
and outbreaks in swimming pools, spa pools, and similar environments
Question Yes No Can’t tell Comments
Did the review
address a
clearly focused
question?
✓ Yes, a wide
range of water
bodies were
considered
from various
time periods
and localities.
Did the authors
look for the
right type of
papers?
✓ The articles has
presented their
exclusion,
inclusion
criteria and
systematic
review which
tells how
papers were
excluded that
dealt with
pools or water
bodies that
were only
meant of
aesthetics or
visual
purposes.
Do you think all
the
important,
relevant
studies
were included?
✓
Did the
review’s
authors do
enough to
assess quality
of
the included
studies?
✓ it is not
mentioned
whether the
articles were
screened for
their
information
content.
If the results of
the review
have been
combined, was
it
reasonable to
do so?
✓ the results
were all the
studies were
similar and any
variations
present have
been
discussed.
What are the
overall results
of the review?
water bodies
that were
watered with
municipality
water system
and not
disinfected
privately had