SynthesisPloS one2015
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Fecal Contamination and Inadequate Treatment of Packaged Water.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Fecal Indicator Bacteria Data to Characterize Drinking Water Quality in Low-Resource Settings: Summary of Current Practices and Recommendations for Improving Validity.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Socioeconomic and attitudinal predictors of bottled water use among lower-income households in Southwest Virginia.Journal of water and health · 2026Article
- Hand-washing practices at critical times in relation to childhood illnesses and under-nutrition among caregivers in Rongai sub-county, Kenya.African health sciences · 2026Article
- Comparing in-home and bottled drinking water quality: regulated and emerging contaminants in rural Central Appalachia.Journal of water and health · 2025Article
- Comparing cultural perceptions of drinking water safety with water quality in urban and rural Guatemalan communities.Journal of water and health · 2025Article
- Microbial Safety of Sachet Water in Ghana: A Systematic Review.Environmental health insights · 2025Article
- The role of water insecurity in influencing water and sugar-sweetened beverage choices: A scoping review.PLOS sustainability and transformation · 2025Article
- Examining Drinking Water Preferences among University Students: A Comparative Assessment.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Exploring the use of clay pots as sustainable storage containers to improve water quality.The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association · 2024Article
- A regulatory framework for bottled water quality monitoring: A case of Emfuleni local municipality.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Measured and Modeled Comparisons of Chemical and Microbial Contaminants in Tap and Bottled Water in a US-Mexico Border Community.ACS ES&T water · 2022Article
- Bottled and Well Water Quality in a Small Central Appalachian Community: Household-Level Analysis of Enteric Pathogens, Inorganic Chemicals, and Health Outcomes in Rural Southwest Virginia.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Article
- Application of a Faecalibacterium 16S rDNA genetic marker for species identification of dog fecal waste.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2020Article
- Bottled water brands are contaminated with multidrug resistant bacteria in Nairobi, Kenya.F1000Research · 2020Article
- Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene for selected adverse health outcomes: An updated analysis with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.International journal of hygiene and environmental health · 2019Article
- An Evolving Choice in a Diverse Water Market: A Quality Comparison of Sachet Water with Community and Household Water Sources in Ghana.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2018Article
- Consumer perceptions and purchasing of packaged water products in Sierra Leone.The Pan African medical journal · 2018Article
- Seasonal Variation in Drinking and Domestic Water Sources and Quality in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2017Article
- Domestic drinking water management: Quality assessment in Oforikrom municipality, Ghana.Science progressArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPackaged water products provide an increasingly important source of water for consumption. However, recent studies raise concerns over their safety.
objectivesTo assess the microbial safety of packaged water, examine differences between regions, country incomes, packaged water types, and compare packaged water with other water sources.
methodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles published in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish, with no date restrictions were identified from online databases and two previous reviews. Studies published before April 2014 that assessed packaged water for the presence of Escherichia coli, thermotolerant or total coliforms were included provided they tested at least ten samples or brands.
resultsA total of 170 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies did not detect fecal indicator bacteria in packaged water (78/141). Compared to packaged water from upper-middle and high-income countries, packaged water from low and lower-middle-income countries was 4.6 (95% CI: 2.6-8.1) and 13.6 (95% CI: 6.9-26.7) times more likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria and total coliforms, respectively. Compared to all other packaged water types, water from small bottles was less likely to be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.17-0.58) and total coliforms (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.22). Packaged water was less likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.62) compared to other water sources used for consumption.
conclusionsPolicymakers and regulators should recognize the potential benefits of packaged water in providing safer water for consumption at and away from home, especially for those who are otherwise unlikely to gain access to a reliable, safe water supply in the near future. To improve the quality of packaged water products they should be integrated into regulatory and monitoring frameworks.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.