Síntesis de evidencia. Cianobacterias, efectos a la salud humana, animal y ambiental / Synthesis of evidence. Cyanobacteria, effects on human, animal and environmental health

Los cuerpos de agua dulce albergan una gran cantidad de microorganismos cruciales para los ecosistemas acuáticos, incluyendo las cianobacterias. Sin embargo, su proliferación descontrolada representa riesgos para la salud humana, animal y el medio ambiente. Esta revisión destaca los efectos adversos de las cianobacterias y sus toxinas, así como los métodos de detección y prevención. La gestión efectiva de estos eventos requiere una comprensión integral de los factores ambientales y un enfoque preventivo en el tratamiento del agua. Se necesitan estrategias multifacéticas que incluyan la monitorización continua, medidas de tratamiento adecuadas y políticas de conservación ambiental para abordar este desafío

Freshwater bodies host a large number of microorganisms crucial to aquatic ecosystems, including cyanobacteria. However, their uncontrolled proliferation poses risks to human, animal and environmental health. This review highlights the adverse effects of cyanobacteria and their toxins, as well as detection and prevention methods. Effective management of these events requires a comprehensive understanding of environmental factors and a preventive approach to water treatment. Multifaceted strategies including continuous monitoring, appropriate treatment measures and environmental conservation policies are needed to address this challenge

Factors associated with microbiological contamination of chicken meat marketed in El Salvador. / Factores asociados con la contaminación microbiológica en la carne de pollo comercializada en El Salvador.

OBJECTIVE.: To determine the hygienic-sanitary factors associated with the microbiological contamination of chicken meat sold at the municipal markets of El Salvador. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 municipal markets of the 14 departmental capitals of El Salvador. The sample consisted of 256 out of 456 possible market stalls. A sample of chicken meat was obtained from each market stall. The microbiological analysis was conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory. Frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendency and association were calculated with SPSS version 21. RESULTS.: Escherichia coli was found in 74% of the samples, Staphylococcus aureus in 24% and Salmonella spp. in 1%. The presence of Salmonella spp. was associated with not using hand sanitizer and not using towels for drying the hands. S. aureus was associated with the use of personal accessories and improper storage. The presence of S. aureus was associated with the lack of hand washing, not using a towel to dry the hands and not wearing an apron. CONCLUSION.: The hygienic-sanitary conditions of the handlers and the market stalls were associated with microbiological contamination of chicken meat marketed in El Salvador.

OBJETIVO.: Determinar los factores higiénico-sanitarios asociados a la contaminación microbiológica de la carne de pollo comercializada en los mercados municipales de El Salvador. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico en los 33 mercados municipales de las cabeceras departamentales de El Salvador. La muestra se calculó a partir de 456 puestos de venta, obteniendo un total de 256 puestos. Por cada puesto se obtuvo una muestra de carne de pollo. El análisis microbiológico se realizó en el Laboratorio Nacional de Salud Pública. Se calcularon frecuencias, porcentajes, medidas de tendencia central y de asociación utilizando SPSS versión 21. RESULTADOS.: En el 74% de las muestras se encontró Escherichia coli, en el 24%, Staphylococcus aureus y en el 16%, Salmonela spp. La presencia de Salmonella spp, estuvo asociada con el no uso de desinfectante para las manos y no utilizar toalla para secarse las manos. La presencia de E. coli estuvo asociada al uso de accesorios personales y la inadecuada temperatura de almacenamiento. Mientras que la presencia de S. aureus, estuvo asociada a la falta de lavado de manos, no utilizar toalla para secarse las manos y no utilizar delantal. CONCLUSIÓN.: Las condiciones higiénico-sanitarias de los manipuladores y de los puestos de venta están asociadas a la contaminación microbiológica en la carne de pollo comercializada en El Salvador.

Factores asociados a la contaminación microbiológica de la carne de pollo comercializada en El Salvador / Factors associated with microbiological contamination of chicken meat marketed in El Salvador

Objetivo. Determinar los factores higiénico-sanitarios asociados a la contaminación microbiológica de la carne de pollo comercializada en los mercados municipales de El Salvador. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico en los 33 mercados municipales de las cabeceras departamentales de El Salvador. La muestra se calculó a partir de 456 puestos de venta, obteniendo un total de 256 puestos. Por cada puesto se obtuvo una muestra de carne de pollo. El análisis microbiológico se realizó en el Laboratorio Nacional de Salud Pública. Se calcularon frecuencias, porcentajes, medidas de tendencia central y de asociación utilizando SPSS versión 21. Resultados. En el 74% de las muestras se encontró Escherichia coli, en el 24%, Staphylococcus aureus y en el 16%, Salmonela spp. La presencia de Salmonella spp, estuvo asociada con el no uso de desinfectante para las manos y no utilizar toalla para secarse las manos. La presencia de E. coli estuvo asociada al uso de accesorios personales y la inadecuada temperatura de almacenamiento. Mientras que la presencia de S. aureus, estuvo asociada a la falta de lavado de manos, no utilizar toalla para secarse las manos y no utilizar delantal. Conclusión. Las condiciones higiénico-sanitarias de los manipuladores y de los puestos de venta están asociadas a la contaminación microbiológica en la carne de pollo comercializada en El Salvador.

Objective. To determine the hygienic-sanitary factors associated with the microbiological contamination of chicken meat sold at the municipal markets of El Salvador. Materials and methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 municipal markets of the 14 departmental capitals of El Salvador. The sample consisted of 256 out of 456 possible market stalls. A sample of chicken meat was obtained from each market stall. The microbiological analysis was conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory. Frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendency and association were calculated with SPSS version 21. Results. Escherichia coli was found in 74% of the samples, Staphylococcus aureus in 24% and Salmonella spp. in 1%. The presence of Salmonella spp. was associated with not using hand sanitizer and not using towels for drying the hands. S. aureus was associated with the use of personal accessories and improper storage. The presence of S. aureus was associated with the lack of hand washing, not using a towel to dry the hands and not wearing an apron. Conclusion. The hygienic-sanitary conditions of the handlers and the market stalls were associated with microbiological contamination of chicken meat marketed in El Salvador.

Geographic areas with the highest concentration of traffic accidents in San Salvador, El Salvador: a spatial analysis of the 2014-2018 period. / Áreas geográficas con mayor concentración de accidentes de tránsito en San Salvador, El Salvador: un análisis espacial del periodo 2014-2018.

OBJECTIVE.: This study aimed to identify the areas with the highest concentration of traffic accidents and injuries in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (SSMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS.: Traffic accidents were analyzed spatially by point location and by the sum of events in areas of 200 m2. The point location was analyzed by "nearest neighbor analysis", while the areas with the sum of traffic accidents were analyzed by Getis-Ord Gi* to obtain the hot spots. The resulting hot spots with the highest concentration of traffic accidents in the SSMA were evaluated in the field using an observation form to collect data on infrastructure and road safety characteristics. RESULTS.: Five areas with the highest number of traffic accidents and injuries, mainly containing primary roads, were identified by analyzing 8191 traffic accidents reported between 2014-2018. CONCLUSION.: The sites with the highest concentration of traffic accidents and injuries were characterized by considerably damaged road infrastructure and the lack of safety systems for drivers and pedestrians. The spatial analysis of traffic accidents and injuries can contribute to improve surveillance and road safety in the SSMA.

OBJETIVO.: Identificar las áreas de mayor concentración de accidentes de tránsito y lesionados en el Área Metropolitana de San Salvador (AMSS). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Los accidentes de tránsito se analizaron espacialmente mediante la ubicación puntual y por la sumatoria de eventos en áreas de 200 m2. La ubicación puntual se analizó mediante «análisis de vecinos más cercanos¼, mientras que las áreas con la sumatoria de accidentes de tránsito se analizaron mediante Gi* de Getis-Ord para obtener los puntos calientes. Los puntos calientes resultantes con mayor concentración de accidentes de tránsito en el AMSS se evaluaron en campo mediante un formulario de observación de las características de infraestructura y seguridad vial. RESULTADOS.: Al analizar 8191 accidentes de tránsito reportados entre 2014‒2018, se identificaron cinco áreas con mayor cantidad de accidentes de tránsito y lesionados, principalmente sobre vías primarias. CONCLUSIÓN.: Los sitios de mayor concentración de accidentes de tránsito y lesionados se caracterizan por una infraestructura vial con daños considerables y falta de sistemas de seguridad para conductores y peatones. El análisis espacial de los accidentes de tránsito y lesionados puede contribuir a mejorar la vigilancia y seguridad vial en el AMSS.

Prophylactic treatment abandonment in people bitten by suspected rabid animals, El Salvador, 2013-2017.

Introduction: Around the world 60,000 people die from rabies each year. The main form of exposure to rabies is by the bite of animals infected with the virus. More than 20,000 cases of rabies-transmitting animal bites are reported each year, in El Salvador, a country located in Central America. People exposed should be managed with rabies prophylaxis. Objective: To determine the abandonment of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) cumulative incidence (CI) in humans bitten by suspected rabid animals in El Salvador from 2013 to 2017. Methodology: This is an ecological study based on the cases of bites by suspected rabid animals reported between 2013 and 2017 in the public health system of El Salvador. Descriptive and correlation analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The municipality CI, expressed per 100,000 inhabitants. Results: The national CI of abandonment PEP in humans bitten by suspected rabid animals was 25.6 × 100,000 inhabitants. Simple bivariate correlation analysis shows that the departments with the highest CI of bites caused by cats, wild animals, and bites on the neck (R 2 = 0.99 P < 0.05) are mostly associated with dropping out of the PEP. Conclusion: In El Salvador, the abandonment CI of PEP is lower than other countries, however, bites by rabid suspected animal are frequent, this represents a public health problem due to the presence of the rabies virus in wild animals and the high lethality of the disease. Municipalities where head bites are common are the most related to the abandonment of PEP.

Heavy metals and pesticide exposure from agricultural activities and former agrochemical factory in a Salvadoran rural community.

Pesticide handling in farming activities involves substantial hazards for the rural population and for the environment. In Latin America, it is estimated that the population at risk of being affected by heavy metals is over 4 million. This research describes the different types of exposure to pesticides and heavy metals in a rural population (Loma del Gallo), considering both environmental and occupational exposure. This study consists of an inspection in a former pesticide factory (QUIMAGRO), analysis of heavy metals in samples from surface and ground water in the community close to the factory, and a survey to the local population about their perceptions of pesticide exposures. Containers with 34.6 tons of chemicals improperly stored were identified in the former factory and removed by the government. Arsenic and cadmium were found in groundwater, and the highest values were 0.012 and 0.004 mg/l, respectively. These contaminants were also detected in most surface water samples, with maximum values of 0.026 and 0.0001 mg/l, respectively. Results of the survey show that of the 44 participants 42 % were farmers. Farmers used 19 different pesticide products containing 11 active ingredients. The most used active ingredients were paraquat (65 %), methamidophos (35 %), and atrazina (29 %). Eighty-two percent of the farmers did not use personal protective equipment. In addition to the pesticides used in the agriculture of the area, pesticide containers were removed from the QUIMAGRO area, but the pollution was still present at time of sampling and it is evident by the odor of the site. Surface water had the major concentration of heavy metals than the groundwater. Loma del Gallo population has been exposed to toxic pesticide from QUIMAGRO and agriculture for many years. The farmers carry out mishandling of pesticides and they not use PPE.