Implications of Wastewater Surveillance for Clinical Care among Infectious Disease Physicians, United States, 2024

A 2024 survey analyzed 192 responses from members of the Emerging Infections Network in the United States regarding the impact of wastewater surveillance on clinical practice. Of 1,809 network members, 448 (25%) participated in the survey, with 192 (40%) providing detailed comments. The analysis identified four main themes: situational awareness and early warning (47% of responses), patient counseling, infection control (24% of responses), and diagnostic support. Previous quantitative findings showed that 56% of physicians do not regularly review wastewater surveillance data, 22% review it regularly, and 22% are unaware of such data. Enhanced collaboration between public health officials and clinical physicians could optimize the use of wastewater surveillance in clinical practice.