If CDC is not issuing a national recommendation, what is its message for immunocompromised persons in the United States?
A. Persons who have severely weakened immune systems should be aware that Cryptosporidium infection can cause severe diarrhea, and that they can get this infection from contact with the stools of infected persons or young animals, from hand-to-mouth spread from surfaces that are contaminated with infected stool, by swallowing contaminated recreational water, by drinking contaminated tap water, or by eating contaminated foods. The report of this conference provides information on steps that can be taken to reduce the risk from water and other sources. Because the risk from water probably varies from city to city and because taking these steps can be expensive, inconvenient, or disruptive, CDC recommends that severely immunosuppressed persons discuss ways to reduce the risk of cryptosporidiosis with their health care provider.
