Marc Verhougstraete

Interests

Research

Water quality microbiologyEnvironmental microbiologyAgriculture and food safetyIrrigation water qualityDrinking water and climate change connectionsQuantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Books

• Verhougstraete, M. P., Verhougstraete, M. P., Sexton, J. D., Sexton, J. D., Reynolds, K. A., & Reynolds, K. A. (2015). Recreational water contamination. Taylor and Francis Inc.. doi:10.4324/9781315693606

Chapters

• Verhougstraete, M. P., Sexton, J. D., & Reynolds, K. A. (2015). Recreational Water Exposure. In Handbook for Water and Health(pp 151-158). New York: EarthScan.

Journals/Publications

• Jordan-Ward, R., von Hippel, F. A., Schmidt, J., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2024). Formerly used defense sites on Unalaska Island, Alaska: Mapping a legacy of environmental pollution. Integrated environmental assessment and management.
  More info

  Unalaska Island, Alaska, served as a US military base during World War II. The military installed bases on Unalaska and nearby islands, many of which were built adjacent to Unangan communities. The military used toxic compounds in its operations and left a legacy of pollution that may pose health risks to residents and local wildlife. The goals of this study were to identify hotspots of contamination remaining at Unalaska formerly used defense (FUD) sites, evaluate the risk posed by arsenic, and examine "no US Department of Defense action indicated" (NDAI) status determinations for FUD sites near communities. We compiled soil chemistry data from remediation reports prepared by the US Army Corps of Engineers at 18 FUD sites on and near Unalaska. Nine had past and/or active remediation projects and on-site sampling data. Eight sites did not have sampling data and were characterized as NDAI. One site was listed as closed. For the nine sites with sampling data, we compiled data for 22 contaminants of concern (COC) and compared concentrations to soil cleanup levels for human health (18 AAC 75.341). We mapped contaminant concentrations exceeding these levels to identify hotspots of contamination. We found that concentrations of some of the 22 COC exceeded Alaska cleanup levels despite remediation efforts, including diesel range organics, arsenic, and lead. The highest COC concentrations were at the FUD site adjacent to the City of Unalaska. A quantitative risk assessment for arsenic found that the risk of exposure through drinking water is low. We highlight concerns with NDAI designations and current remedial practices at remote FUD sites located adjacent to communities. Our data suggest the need for further remediation and monitoring efforts on Unalaska for certain contaminants and research to examine potential threats to human and animal health associated with these sites. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 SETAC.
• Cooksey, E., Verhougstraete, M., Sneed, S. J., Joseph, C. N., Blohm, J., Paukgana, M., Joshweseoma, L., Sehongva, G., Hadeed, S., Harris, R., & O'Rourke, M. K. (2023). Drinking water and health assessment in a Northern Arizona community. Human and ecological risk assessment : HERA, 29(1), 157-173.
  More info

  Arizona is a mineral rich state that relies on a mix of surface and ground water supplies for drinking water requirements. Small, rural water systems relying on groundwater frequently encounter elevated metal(loid) measures, particularly inorganic arsenic (As ). Such contaminant occurrences can be associated with adverse health outcomes including cancers. The Hopi Environmental Health Project examined drinking water quality and water consumption behaviors from 76 homes on Hopi lands over a four-year period. Water samples were analyzed for 28 elements and compared to US Environmental Protection Agengy (EPA) maximum contaminant levels (MCL). Only municipal/piped water had a mean arsenic concentration (11.01 μg/L) exceeding the MCL (10.0 μg/L). All other water types and elements occurred below MCL when detected. A lifetime cancer and hazard quotient associated with arsenic consumption through each water type was performed and piped/municipal water was found to carry the greatest risks (9.96 cases per 10,000 people). Results from this study showed the potential for multiple contaminants to be present in drinking water from Hopi lands and the need for further health assessment of routine exposure to low doses of contaminant mixtures through drinking water.
• Diner, R. E., Zimmer-Faust, A., Cooksey, E., Allard, S., Kodera, S. M., Kunselman, E., Garodia, Y., Verhougstraete, M. P., Allen, A. E., Griffith, J., & Gilbert, J. A. (2023). Host and Water Microbiota Are Differentially Linked to Potential Human Pathogen Accumulation in Oysters. Applied and environmental microbiology, 89(7), e0031823.
  More info

  Oysters play an important role in coastal ecology and are a globally popular seafood source. However, their filter-feeding lifestyle enables coastal pathogens, toxins, and pollutants to accumulate in their tissues, potentially endangering human health. While pathogen concentrations in coastal waters are often linked to environmental conditions and runoff events, these do not always correlate with pathogen concentrations in oysters. Additional factors related to the microbial ecology of pathogenic bacteria and their relationship with oyster hosts likely play a role in accumulation but are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether microbial communities in water and oysters were linked to accumulation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, or fecal indicator bacteria. Site-specific environmental conditions significantly influenced microbial communities and potential pathogen concentrations in water. Oyster microbial communities, however, exhibited less variability in microbial community diversity and accumulation of target bacteria overall and were less impacted by environmental differences between sites. Instead, changes in specific microbial taxa in oyster and water samples, particularly in oyster digestive glands, were linked to elevated levels of potential pathogens. For example, increased levels of V. parahaemolyticus were associated with higher relative abundances of cyanobacteria, which could represent an environmental vector for spp. transport, and with decreased relative abundance of and other key members of the oyster digestive gland microbiota. These findings suggest that host and microbial factors, in addition to environmental variables, may influence pathogen accumulation in oysters. Bacteria in the marine environment cause thousands of human illnesses annually. Bivalves are a popular seafood source and are important in coastal ecology, but their ability to concentrate pathogens from the water can cause human illness, threatening seafood safety and security. To predict and prevent disease, it is critical to understand what causes pathogenic bacteria to accumulate in bivalves. In this study, we examined how environmental factors and host and water microbial communities were linked to potential human pathogen accumulation in oysters. Oyster microbial communities were more stable than water communities, and both contained the highest concentrations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus at sites with warmer temperatures and lower salinities. High oyster V. parahaemolyticus concentrations corresponded with abundant cyanobacteria, a potential vector for transmission, and a decrease in potentially beneficial oyster microbes. Our study suggests that poorly understood factors, including host and water microbiota, likely play a role in pathogen distribution and pathogen transmission.
• Gandhi, P., Verhougstraete, M. P., Hippel, F. v., & Rodríguez, S. (2023).

  Microbiological assessment of drinking water around lake atitlan, guatemala

  . Human and Ecological Risk Assessment:. doi:10.18332/popmed/164451
• Kurgat, E., Quintanar, D., Norman, A., & Verhougstraete, M. (2018). A NOVEL APPROACH TO QUANTIFY CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY.. Journal of Water and Health.
• Madera-Garcia, V., Beamer, P., Werner, J. D., & Verhougstraete, M. (2018). Legionella is a Miner issue. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology.
• Nshimyimana, J. P., Martin, S., Flood, M., Verhougstraete, M., Hyndman, D., & Rose, J. (2018). Regional variations of bovine and porcine fecal pollution as a function of landscape, nutrient, and hydrological factors. Journal of Environmental Quality.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Bright, K., Canales, R., Wilson, A., & Verhougstraete, M. (2019). Managing leafy green safety from adenoviruses and enteroviruses in irrigation water. Agriculture Water Management.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Reynolds, K. A., Bright, K., & Verhougstraete, M. (2017). Risk assessment of enteric viruses as new indicators of human and cattle fecal contamination of irrigation waters. Environmental Health Perspectives.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Troup, D., Ives, R., Ikner, L. A., Rose, J., Kennedy, M., & Verhougstraete, M. (2019). UVGI system impact on airborne indicators of common veterinary pathogens.. American Journal of Veterinarian Research.
  More info

  Pearce-Walker, J. D.J. Troup, R. Ives, L.A. Ikner, J.B. Rose, M.A. Kennedy, M.P. Verhougstraete (Accepted). UVGI system impact on airborne indicators of common veterinary pathogens. American Journal of Veterinarian Research.
• Troup, D., Reynolds, K. A., & Verhougstraete, M. (2017). Passive air treatment system evaluation. American Journal of Infection Control.
• Verhougstraete, M., Boccelli, D., Cooksey, E., Wilson, A. M., & Lee, S. (2021). Exploring vulnerable nodes, impactful viral intrusion sites, and viral infection risk reductions offered by chlorine boosters in municipal drinking water networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.
• Verhougstraete, M., Pogreba Brown, K. M., Canales, R. A., Reynolds, K. A., & Eisenburg, J. (2016). Using Local Data in a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Sao Paulo, Brazil. To be submitted to Water Research.
• Verhougstraete, M., Pogreba Brown, K. M., Canales, R. A., Reynolds, K. A., & Eisenburg, J. (2017). Using Local Data in a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Sao Paulo, Brazil. To be submitted to Water Research.
• Wilson, A., Verhougstraete, M., Martin, S., Kendall, A., Rose, J., Bell, M. L., & Hyndman, D. (2019). Explaining Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Escherichia coli concentrations in Michigan watersheds with adaptive LASSO linear regression models.. Science of the Total Environment.
• Beamer, P., Richmond, B., Vargas, M., Kuss, L., Sneed, S., Lyons, L., Hull, E., Pearce-Walker, J., Verhougstraete, M., Nematollahi, A., & others, . (2022). Environmental Toxic Substance Assessment 2022 Update.
• Cooksey, E., Verhougstraete, M., Sneed, S. J., Joseph, C. N., Blohem, J., Paukgana, M., Joshweseoma, L., Sehongva, G., Hadeed, S., Harris, R., & others, . (2022). Drinking water and health assessment in a Northern Arizona community. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 1--17.
• Hermanski, A., McClelland, J., Pearce-Walker, J., Ruiz, J., & Verhougstraete, M. (2022). The effects of blue spaces on mental health and associated biomarkers. International Journal of Mental Health, 51(3), 203--217.
• Lee, S., Wilson, A. M., Cooksey, E., Boccelli, D., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2022). Exploring vulnerable nodes, impactful viral intrusion sites, and viral infection risk reductions offered by chlorine boosters in municipal drinking water networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 148(9), 04022048.
• Reynolds, K. A., Verhougstraete, M. P., Mena, K. D., Sattar, S. A., Scott, E. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2022). Quantifying pathogen infection risks from household laundry practices. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 132(2), 1435--1448.
• Wilson, A. M., Martin, S. L., Verhougstraete, M. P., Kendall, A. D., Zimmer-Faust, A. G., Rose, J. B., Bell, M. L., & Hyndman, D. W. (2022). Detangling Seasonal Relationships of Fecal Contamination Sources and Correlates with Indicators in Michigan Watersheds. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(4), e00415--22.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Ruiz, J. M., Pearce-walker, J., Mcclelland, J., & Hermanski, A. (2021). The effects of blue spaces on mental health and associated biomarkers. International Journal of Mental Health, 1-15. doi:10.1080/00207411.2021.1910173
  More info

  Green spaces have been shown to have many benefits for physical and mental health. Recently, blue spaces have been introduced as another field of research and have been suggested to have similar he...
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Wilson, A. M., Verhougstraete, M. P., Reynolds, K. A., & Donskey, C. J. (2021). An agent-based modeling approach to estimate pathogen exposure risks from wheelchairs.. American journal of infection control, 49(2), 206-214. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.204
  More info

  Contributions of contaminated wheelchairs to nosocomial pathogen transmission are relatively unknown. Our aim was to develop a model predicting pathogen exposures for patients utilizing wheelchairs and estimate exposure reduction potential of wheelchair disinfection between rides..An agent-based model was informed by wheelchair location data from a connected 215-bed acute care and 250-bed long-term care facility. Simulated scenarios varied in frequencies of patient wheelchair contamination and wheelchair disinfection in between trips. Clostridioides difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus concentrations on patient hands at the end of wheelchair trips were estimated. Exposure reductions due to disinfection, assuming low real-world efficacies (50%, 70%, and 90%), were compared..In the simulation, when few patients introduced contamination to wheelchairs, disinfection in between patients 50% of the time decreased baseline (no disinfection) estimated exposures for the 50th wheelchair rider by >99.999%. When patients had a 50% chance of being contaminated before the wheelchair ride, disinfection did not reduce exposures consistently..The efficacy of disinfection in between patient rides as an exposure mitigation strategy likely depends on the frequency of infected patient wheelchair use..During outbreak, high contamination conditions, disinfection, alone, is not enough to protect patients from wheelchair-mediated exposures.
• Verhougstraete, M., Kennedy, M., Rose, J., Ikner, L. A., Ives, R., Troup, D., & Pearce-Walker, J. (2019). UVGI system impact on airborne indicators of common veterinary pathogens.. American Journal of Veterinarian Research.
  More info

  Pearce-Walker, J. D.J. Troup, R. Ives, L.A. Ikner, J.B. Rose, M.A. Kennedy, M.P. Verhougstraete (Accepted). UVGI system impact on airborne indicators of common veterinary pathogens. American Journal of Veterinarian Research.
• Verhougstraete, M., Kuppravalli, A., Joshi, S., Heida, A., Hamilton, K. A., Haas, C. N., & Gerrity, D. (2021). Legionnaires' disease in dental offices: Quantifying aerosol risks to dental workers and patients.. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 18(8), 378-393. doi:10.1080/15459624.2021.1939878
  More info

  Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic bacterial respiratory pathogen that is one of the leading causes of drinking water outbreaks in the United States. Dental offices pose a potential risk for inhalation or aspiration of L. pneumophila due to the high surface area to volume ratio of dental unit water lines-a feature that is conducive to biofilm growth. This is coupled with the use of high-pressure water devices (e.g., ultrasonic scalers) that produce fine aerosols within the breathing zone. Prior research confirms that L. pneumophila occurs in dental unit water lines, but the associated human health risks have not been assessed. We aimed to: (1) synthesize the evidence for transmission and management of Legionnaires' disease in dental offices; (2) create a quantitative modeling framework for predicting associated L. pneumophila infection risk; and (3) highlight influential parameters and research gaps requiring further study. We reviewed outbreaks, management guidance, and exposure studies and used these data to parameterize a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model for L. pneumophila in dental applications. Probabilities of infection for dental hygienists and patients were assessed on a per-exposure and annual basis. We also assessed the impact of varying ventilation rates and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Following an instrument purge (i.e., flush) and with a ventilation rate of 1.2 air changes per hour, the median per-exposure probability of infection for dental hygienists and patients exceeded a 1-in-10,000 infection risk benchmark. Per-exposure risks for workers during a purge and annual risks for workers wearing N95 masks did not exceed the benchmark. Increasing air change rates in the treatment room from 1.2 to 10 would achieve an ∼85% risk reduction, while utilization of N95 respirators would reduce risks by ∼95%. The concentration of L. pneumophila in dental unit water lines was a dominant parameter in the model and driver of risk. Future risk assessment efforts and refinement of microbiological control protocols would benefit from expanded occurrence datasets for L. pneumophila in dental applications.
• Wilson, A. M., Verhougstraete, M. P., Beamer, P. I., King, M., Reynolds, K. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2021). Frequency of hand-to-head,-mouth,-eyes, and-nose contacts for adults and children during eating and non-eating macro-activities. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 31(1), 34--44.
• Gerba, C. P., Gerba, C. P., Reynolds, K. A., Reynolds, K. A., King, M. F., King, M. F., Beamer, P., Beamer, P., Verhougstraete, M., Verhougstraete, M., Wilson, A., & Wilson, A. (2020). Frequency of hand-to-head, -mouth, -eyes, and -nose contacts for adults and children during eating and non-eating macro-activities. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 31, 34-44, 31, 34-44.
• Pearce-Walker, J. I., Troup, D. J., Ives, R., Ikner, L. A., Rose, J. B., Kennedy, M. A., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2020). Investigation of the effects of an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system on concentrations of aerosolized surrogates for common veterinary pathogens. American journal of veterinary research, 81(6), 506--513.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Verhougstraete, M., Bright, K. R., Wilson, A. M., Canales, R. A., Canales, R. A., Wilson, A. M., Bright, K. R., Pearce-Walker, J., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2020). Managing leafy green safety from adenoviruses and enteroviruses in irrigation water. Agricultural Water Management, 240, 106272.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Pogreba-Brown, K., Reynolds, K. A., Lamparelli, C. C., Sato, M., Wade, T. J., & Eisenberg, J. N. (2020). A critical analysis of recreational water guidelines developed from temperate climate data and applied to the tropics. Water research, 170, 115294.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Wilson, A. M., Canales, R. A., Bright, K. R., & Pearce-Walker, J. (2020). Managing leafy green safety from adenoviruses and enteroviruses in irrigation water.. Agricultural Water Management, 240, 106272. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106272
• Verhougstraete, M., Reynolds, K. A., Pearce-Walker, J., & Gerba, C. (2020). Cost-benefit analysis of point-of-use devices for health risks reduction from pathogens in drinking water. Journal of Water and Health.
• Wilson, A. M., Verhougstraete, M. P., Donskey, C. J., & Reynolds, K. A. (2020). An agent-based modeling approach to estimate pathogen exposure risks from wheelchairs. American Journal of Infection Control.
• Wilson, A., Donskey, C., Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. (2020). Estimating the Contribution of a Contaminated Wheelchair to Pathogen Spread With an Agent-Based Model. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(S1), s474--s474.
• Eisenburg, J., Eisenburg, J., Wade, T., Wade, T., Zanoli Satof, M., Zanoli Satof, M., Conde Lamparellie, C., Conde Lamparellie, C., Reynolds, K. A., Reynolds, K. A., Canales, R. A., Canales, R. A., Pogreba Brown, K. M., Pogreba Brown, K. M., Verhougstraete, M., & Verhougstraete, M. (2019). Using Local Data in a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Water Research. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115294
• Madera-Garcia, V., Mraz, A. L., Lopez-Galvez, N., Weir, M. H., Werner, J., Beamer, P. I., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2019). Legionella pneumophila as a Health Hazard to Miners: A Pilot Study of Water Quality and QMRA. WATER, 11(8).
• Munoz-Gutierrez, K. M., Canales, R. A., Reynolds, K. A., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2019). Floor and environmental contamination during glove disposal. JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION, 101(3), 347-353.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2019). Cost-benefit of point-of-use devices for lead reduction. Environmental Research.
• Verhougstraete, M., Werner, J. D., Beamer, P., & Madera-Garcia, V. (2018). Legionella is a Miner issue. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology.
• Wilson, A., Canales, R. A., Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. A. (2019). Validation of a Stochastic Discrete Event Model Predicting Virus Concentration on Nurse Hands. Risk Analysis.
• Alshammari, M., Reynolds, K. A., Verhougstraete, M., & O'Rourke, M. K. (2018). Comparison of Perceived and Observed Hand Hygiene Compliance in Healthcare Workers in MERS-CoV Endemic Regions. Healthcare.
• Canales, R. A., Wilson, A. M., Pearce-Walker, J. I., Verhougstraete, M. P., & Reynolds, K. A. (2018). Methods for Handling Left-Censored Data in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 84(20).
• Lothrop, N., Bright, K. R., Sexton, J., Pearce-Walker, J., Reynolds, K. A., & Verhougstraete, M. P. (2018). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality. AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT, 199, 86-92.
• Munoz-Gutierrez, K., Canales, R. A., Reynolds, K. A., & Verhougstraete, M. (2018). Floor and environmental contamination during glove disposal. Journal of Hospital Infections. doi:10.1016/J.JHIN.2018.10.015
• Nshimyimana, J. P., Martin, S. L., Flood, M., Verhougstraete, M. P., Hyndman, D. W., & Rose, J. B. (2018). Regional Variations of Bovine and Porcine Fecal Pollution as a Function of Landscape, Nutrient, and Hydrological Factors. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, 47(5), 1024-1032.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2018). Comparison of Perceived and Observed Hand Hygiene Compliance in Healthcare Workers in MERS-CoV Endemic Regions. Healthcare.
• Verhougstraete, M., Gerald, J. K., Gerba, C. P., & Reynolds, K. A. (2019). Cost-benefit of point-of-use devices for lead reduction. Environmental Research.
• Verhougstraete, M., Reynolds, K. A., Pearce-Walker, J., Sexton, J. D., Bright, K. R., & Lothrop, N. (2018). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality. AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT, 199, 86-92. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2017.12.018
  More info

  The quality of irrigation water drawn from surface water sources varies greatly. This is particularly true for waters that are subject to intermittent contamination events such as runoff from rainfall or direct entry of livestock upstream of use. Such pollution in irrigation systems increases the risk of food crop contamination and require adoption of best monitoring practices. Therefore, this study aimed to define optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality. Following the analysis of 1357 irrigation water samples for Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and physical and chemical parameters, the following key irrigation water collection approaches are suggested: 1) explore up to 950 m upstream to ensure no major contamination or outfalls exists; 2) collect samples before 12:00 p.m. local time; 3) collect samples at the surface of the water at any point across the canal where safe access is available; and 4) composite five samples and perform a single E. coli assay. These recommendations comprehensively consider the results as well as sampling costs, personnel effort, and current scientific knowledge of water quality characterization. These strategies will help to better characterize risks from microbial pathogen contamination in irrigation waters in the Southwest United States and aid in risk reduction practices for agricultural water use in regions with similar water quality, climate, and canal construction.
• Verhougstraete, M., Reynolds, K. A., Sexton, J. D., Bright, K., & Lothrop, N. Z. (2018). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality and the development of guidelines for the irrigation of food crops in the Southwestern United States. Agricultural Water Management.
• Verhougstraete, M., Verhougstraete, M., Reynolds, K. A., Reynolds, K. A., Gerba, C. P., & Gerba, C. P. (2017). Lead in drinking water: Point of use cost benefit analysis.. Environmental Health Perspectives.
• Lothrop, N. Z., Bright, K., Sexton, J. D., Reynolds, K. A., & Verhougstraete, M. (2016). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality and the development of guidelines for the irrigation of food crops in the Southwestern United States. Agricultural Water Management.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2016). On Tap: Water Issues: Global Concerns and Global Issues. Water Conditioning & Purification International.
  More info

  Trade journal article peer reviewed by a technical advisory committee. http://www.wcponline.com/2016/01/15/on-tap-water-issues-global-concerns-and-global-issues/
• Verhougstraete, M. (2016). Use of a portable air disinfecting system to remove seeded coliphage in hospital rooms. American Journal of Infection Control.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. (2016). Use of a portable air disinfecting system to remove seeded coliphage in hospital rooms. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL, 44(6), 714-715.
• Lamparelli, C. C., Pogreba-Brown, K., Verhougstraete, M. P., Sato, M. I., {de Castro Bruni}, A., Wade, T. J., & Eisenberg, J. N. (2015). Are fecal indicator bacteria appropriate measures of recreational water risks in the tropics: A cohort study of beach goers in Brazil?. Water Research, 87, 59--68.
• Lothrop, N., Wilkinson, S. T., Verhougstraete, M., Sugeng, A., Loh, M. M., Klimecki, W., & Beamer, P. I. (2015). Home Water Treatment Habits and Effectiveness in a Rural Arizona Community. WATER, 7(3), 1217-1231.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2015). Are fecal indicator bacteria appropriate measures of recreational water risks in the tropics: A cohort study of beach goers in Brazil?. Water Research.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2015). Lessons learned from implementing a wet laboratory molecular training workshop for beach water quality monitoring. PLoS ONE.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2015). Linking fecal bacteria in rivers to landscape, geochemical, and hydrologic factors and sources at the basin scale. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Brothers, S., Litaker, W., Blackwood, A. D., & Noble, R. (2015). Lessons Learned from Implementing a Wet Laboratory Molecular Training Workshop for Beach Water Quality Monitoring. PLOS ONE, 10(3).
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Martin, S. L., Kendall, A. D., Hyndman, D. W., & Rose, J. B. (2015). Linking fecal bacteria in rivers to landscape, geochemical, and hydrologic factors and sources at the basin scale. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112, 201415836.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. A. (2015). Use of a portable air disinfecting system to remove seeded coliphage in hospital rooms. American Journal of Infection Control.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2014). Microbial investigations of water, sediment, and algal mats in the mixed use watershed of Saginaw Bay, Michigan. Journal of Great Lakes Research.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2010). Cladophora in the Great Lakes: Impacts on beach water quality and human health. Water Science and Technology.

Presentations

• Madera-Garcia, V., Beamer, P., Werner, J. D., & Verhougstraete, M. (2018, May). Legionella is a Miner Issue. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Miller, J. (2018, May). Suitability of Escherichia coli as an Indicator of Human Pathogens in Irrigation Water. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Verhougstraete, M., Pearce-Walker, J., Reynolds, K. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2018, May). Cost benefits of point-of-use devices to reduce waterborne diseases. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Madera-Garcia, V., Verhougstraete, M., Werner, J. D., Beamer, P., Beamer, P., Werner, J. D., Madera-Garcia, V., & Verhougstraete, M. (2018, May). Legionella is a Miner Issue. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Mclain, J. E., Pogreba Brown, K. M., Cooper, K. K., Verhougstraete, M., Verhougstraete, M., Cooper, K. K., Pogreba Brown, K. M., & Mclain, J. E. (2019, November). Breaking down scientific silos: using One Health to address the World’s wicked problems. TENWEST Impact Festival. Tucson, Arizona.
  More info

  McLain, J.E. K. Cooper, K. Pogreba-Brown, and M. Verhougstraete. Breaking down scientific silos: using One Health to address the World’s wicked problems. Tucson, Arizona, October 14, 2019.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Wilson, A., Canales, R., Bright, K., Gerba, C., & Verhougstraete, M. (2019, May). Adenovirus infection risk from irrigated leafy green consumption. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2019, April). There’s we in water. Georgia Southern Environmental Health Graduate seminar. Statesboro, Georgia: Georgia Southern.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2019, December). Development of Health Eects Endpoint Dose Response and QMRA Models for Two Healthcare Associated Infections MRSA and Clostroides dicile. The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA). Arlington, VA.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Beamer, P. (2019, April). PFAS report update. Pima Board of Health monthly meeting. Tucson, AZ: Pima Board of Health.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Nshimyimana, J. P. (2018, June). Regional variations of bovine and porcine fecal pollution. IAGLR 2018 Conference on Great Lakes Research. Toronto.
• Verhougstraete, M., & Zimmer-Faust, A. (2019, May). Young professionals workshop. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
  More info

  Lead a young scientist workshop for 33 student researchers. Included 6 senior mentors from around the world to discuss careers in federal, state, and local government, non-profit, industry, and academia. Helped students develop elevator speeches and practice.
• Verhougstraete, M., Gerald, J. K., Reynolds, K. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2019, June). Cost-Benefit of Point of Use Devices for Lead Reductions. American Water Works Association ACE 2019. Denver, CO: WQRF.
• Verhougstraete, M., Weir, M., & Miller, J. (2017, May). International Risk Consortium side event. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Chapel Hill, NC.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2016, December). Practical tips for effective water sampling. Washington State Fruit Tree Association annual meeting. Wenatchee, WA.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2016, June). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality and the development of guidelines for the irrigation of food crops. Center for Produce Safety annual meeting. Seattle, WA.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2016, May). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality and the development of guidelines for the irrigation of food crops. University of North Carolina Water Microbiology conference. Raleigh, NC.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., & Bright, K. (2015, July). Optimal strategies for monitoring irrigation water quality and the development of guidelines for the irrigation of food crops. Center for Produce Safety annual meeting. Atlanta, GA, USA: Center for Produce Safety.
• Verhougstraete, M. P., Martin, S., Kendall, A., Hyndman, D., & Rose, J. (2015, December). Linking fecal bacteria in rivers to landscape, geochemical, and hydrologic factors and sources at the basin scale. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality webinar. Lansing, Michigan, US: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Poster Presentations

• Wilson, A., Donskey, C., Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. (2019, Fall). Estimating the contribution of a contaminated wheelchair to pathogen spread with an agent-based model. SHEA. Atlanta, GA.
  More info

  Background: Wheelchairs can contribute to healthcare-associated infection transmission due to direct contact with patients and healthcare workers and due to wide spatial movement in facilities. The purpose of this study was to utilize location data of a wheelchair to inform an agent-based model for estimating the contribution of a single contaminated patient ride in a wheelchair to subsequent environmental contamination and to estimate the potential for wheelchair disinfection between patients to disrupt this spread.Method: The destination and origin of wheelchairs were tracked in several facility locations: specialty care services, long term care, radiology, acute care, common spaces, domiciliary, and outpatient clinics. An agent-based model was developed where the probability of the wheelchair traveling directly from one location to another was informed by wheelchair origin and destination data. It was assumed the first patient’s hands were contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). For each patient trip, each simulated patient made contact with the wheelchair arm rests and a surface in the destination location. All patients riding in the wheelchair after the contaminated patient were assumed to be uncontaminated to evaluate potential exposures of uninfected patients. A total of fifty patient rides were simulated. The concentration and number of contaminated surfaces in each hospital area were compared in addition to the average concentration of MRSA on patient hands over time. The intervention simulation involved a disinfection of wheelchair armrests with 90%, 70%, or 50% efficacy.Result: The three areas that had the largest estimated number of contaminated surfaces after 50 wheelchair trips following the first patient assumed to be infected were specialty care services, long term care, and acute care. This was consistent with the paths that were most frequented by the wheelchair. Without cleaning in between patients, the fiftieth patient to use the wheelchair had an average MRSA concentration of 21.9 CFU/cm2. With cleaning between patients assuming a 50% cleaning efficacy, average MRSA concentration on the hands for the fiftieth patient was reduced to 3.8 x 10-14 CFU/cm2.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that cleaning, even with efficacies as low as 50%, may protect patients using contaminated wheelchairs from potential pathogen exposures. This study also demonstrates that tracking of portable equipment can be useful for not only exposure modeling but also predicting where the largest number of surfaces contaminated via portable equipment routes may be found. Future steps include running a sensitivity analysis to evaluate how spatial assumptions in the agent-based
• Verhougstraete, M., Zimmer-Faust, A., White, M., & Pearce-Walker, J. (2019, April). Assessing the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Ear Drops for Microbial Reductions. University of Arizona Public Health Poster Forum. Tucson, AZ.
• Wagoner, R., & Verhougstraete, M. (2019, August). Addressing Water Quality Alongside Community Health Workers in a Farm Worker Community. International Society Of Exposure Science and International Society Of Indoor Air Quality And Climate. Kaunas, Lithuania.
• Troup, D., Verhougstraete, M., & Reynolds, K. A. (2017, April). Bioaerosol Reduction with a Passive Air Treatment System in a Controlled Chamber. MEZCOPH Student Poster Forum. Tucson, AZ.

Reviews

• Kahn, D., Chen, W., Linden, Y., Corbeil, K. A., Lowry, S., Higham, C. A., Mendez, K. S., Burch, P., DiFondi, T., Verhougstraete, M., De Roos, A. J., Haas, C. N., Gerba, C., & Hamilton, K. A. (2024. A microbial risk assessor's guide to Valley Fever (Coccidioides spp.): Case study and review of risk factors(p. 170141).
  More info

  Valley Fever is a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of arthroconidia, a type of spore produced by fungi within the genus Coccidioides spp. which are found in dry, hot ecosystems of the Western Hemisphere. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for the disease has not yet been performed due to a lack of dose-response models and a scarcity of quantitative occurrence data from environmental samples. A literature review was performed to gather data on experimental animal dosing studies, environmental occurrence, human disease outbreaks, and meteorological associations. As a result, a risk framework is presented with information for parameterizing QMRA models for Coccidioides spp., with eight new dose-response models proposed. A probabilistic QMRA was conducted for a Southwestern US agricultural case study, evaluating eight scenarios related to farming occupational exposures. Median daily workday risks for developing severe Valley Fever ranged from 2.53 × 10 (planting by hand while wearing an N95 facemask) to 1.33 × 10 (machine harvesting while not wearing a facemask). The literature review and QMRA synthesis confirmed that exposure to aerosolized arthroconidia has the potential to result in high attack rates but highlighted that the mechanistic relationships between environmental conditions and disease remain poorly understood. Recommendations for Valley Fever risk assessment research needs in order to reduce disease risks are discussed, including interventions for farmers.

Others

• Beamer, P., Pountain, M., Nematollahi, A., Verhougstraete, M., & Pearce-Walker, J. (2019, December). Environmental Toxic Substance Assessment: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Pima County Water. Pima County Health Department.
  More info

  A review report on PFAS in Pima County, Arizona groundwater and the health effects of PFAS on humans.
• Pearce-Walker, J., Verhougstraete, M., Nematollahi, A., Pountain, M., & Beamer, P. (2019, December). Environmental Toxic Substance Assessment: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Pima County Water.
  More info

  A review report on PFAS in Pima County, Arizona groundwater and the health effects of PFAS on humans.
• Verhougstraete, M. (2020, January). Combined Surface Sampling and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Modeling To Optimize Surface Cleaning For Targeted HAI Reduction.
  More info

  Final report for CDC funded research project. A comprehensive, 200 page report. J. Pearce-Walker, J., A. Yoder, M.H. Weir, and M. Verhougstraete. 2019. Combined Surface Sampling and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Modeling To Optimize Surface Cleaning For Targeted HAI Reduction. For Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Verhougstraete, M., Gerba, C. P., & Reynolds, K. A. (2016, September). Cost benefit of point-of-use devices in reduction of health risks from drinking water..
  More info

  Verhougstraete, M.P., K., Reynolds, A. Tamimi, and C. Gerba. 2016. Cost benefit of point-of-use devices in reduction of health risks from drinking water. A technical report For Water Quality Research Foundation.