New Primers for Detection and Differentiation between Leishmania viannia and L. leishmania Subgenera by Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Background: Leishmania is the parasitic protozoan responsible for leishmaniases, a disease that can cause a range of cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral infections. Two subgenera L. Viannia and L. Leishmania are known to infect humans in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. The aim of the present study was to develop a new pair of primers for the two subgenera and test in clinical samples. Methods: We designed two new pairs of primers for a PCR method from two conserved genes, cysteine proteinase B (cpb) and N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosfate deacetylase-like protein (nagA), as specific markers for those two respective subgenera. Primers were tested with 16 microscopical positive clinical samples from the Amazon region of Ecuador obtained in 2010-2020 period. Results: The cpb presented a band of 172 bp and the nagA a band of 300 bp, thus clearly differentiating L. viannia from L. leishmania. Additionally, primers identified and differentiated the clinical samples in the two subgenera. Conclusion: The new primers targeting different two genes and standardized in a PCR assay could identified and differentiated Leishmania parasites at subgenus level. This protocol could be used for Leishmania genus identification and diagnosis at the subgenus level and for determining the parasite's geographical distribution where different Leishmania subgenera are found in the same area.

Conocimientos, percepciones y prácticas de médicos de atención primaria en Ecuador sobre la infección por Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Knowledge, perceptions and practice of primary healthcare doctors in Ecuador on Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection

Introducción: La angiostrongiliasis humana presenta un amplio espectro clínico: desde una infección asintomática a meningitis eosinofílica, meningoencefalitis eosinofílica y angiostrongiliasis ocular. Objetivo: Determinar los conocimientos, percepciones y prácticas en relación con la infección por Angiostrongylus cantonensis que poseen médicos de atención primaria de la República del Ecuador. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo. Se diseñó, validó y aplicó una encuesta sobre conocimientos, percepciones y prácticas a 163 médicos de atención primaria de las provincias Napo y Guayas, entre los meses de noviembre y diciembre de 2017. La información obtenida se almacenó en una base de datos Microsoft Access y se realizó un análisis de frecuencias a las respuestas dadas a cada una de las preguntas. Resultados: Se encontraron conocimientos insuficientes, percepciones inadecuadas y prácticas incorrectas en relación con la angiostrongiliasis. Conclusiones: Estos resultados orientan hacia la implementación de un programa de intervención educativa en médicos de atención primaria con el fin de atenuar las deficiencias encontradas, para incidir de forma positiva en comunidades donde existe la presencia de hospederos intermediarios y definitivos infectados y un riesgo potencial de infección.

Introduction: Human angiostrongyliasis presents a broad clinical spectrum, which ranges from asymptomatic infection to eosinophilic meningitis, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, and ocular angiostrongyliasis. Objective: To determine the knowledge, perceptions, and practice of primary healthcare doctors in the Republic of Ecuador regarding Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. Methods: It was conducted a descriptive observational study. A survey on knowledge, perceptions, and practice was designed, validated, and applied to 163 primary healthcare doctors from Napo and Guayas provinces between November and December 2017. The information obtained was stored in a Microsoft Access 2016 database, and a frequency analysis was performed to the answers provided to every question. Results: Insufficient knowledge, inadequate perceptions, and incorrect practice regarding angiostrongyliasis were found. Conclusions: The results evidenced the need to implement an educational intervention program to primary healthcare doctors aimed at reducing the deficiencies found to have a positive impact on the communities where the intermediate and definitive hosts and a potential infection risk exist.

Caracterización de lesiones cutáneas asociadas al uso de equipos de protección individual e infecciones por Staphylococcus aureus en personal sanitario en la lucha contra el Covid-19 / Characterization of skin lesions associated with the use of personal protective equipment and Staphylococcus aureus infections in health personnel in the fight against Covid-19

La pandemia por Covid-19 ha marcado cambio en paradigma de la atención médica, generando la necesidad del uso de equipo de protección individual (EPI), para salvaguardar la salud. Lo que ha originado manifestaciones cutáneas secundarias asociadas al uso de los mismos. Se realizó una investigación descriptiva de corte transversal con el objetivo de caracterizar las lesiones cutáneas asociadas al uso de EPI e infecciones por Staphylococcusaureus en 283 enfermeros, el diagnóstico dermatológico fue realizado por especialistas; el cultivo bacteriológico se realizó a partir de hisopados de algodón estériles o frotis de aposición sobre la lesión de piel. Para el aislamiento del género Staphylococcus, las muestras se sembraron en agar salino manitol rojo de fenol, incubándose de 24 a 48 horas a 37°C. La identificación de S. aureus se efectúo por la fermentación del manitol en el agar selectivo, la reacción positiva de la prueba de la coagulasa. El S. aureus se diferenció del Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo con el empleo de la prueba de la Dnasa. Se precisó LC-EPI en 75,618% de los enfermeros, de los cuales 92,523% presentaron síntomas sugestivos a infección bacteriana secundaria, ratificada en su totalidad por cultivo microbiológico, identificando a S. aureus. Se estimó que más del 60% de las LC-EPI eran de presentación única catalogada grado I, afectando mayormente las regiones: orbitaria, temporal, nasal, infraorbitaria y frontal, asociándose con el uso de lentes/protectores faciales, gorros y mascarillas como causantes de las lesiones. Se recomienda la definición de protocolos de prevención de LC-EPI(AU)

The Covid-19 pandemic has marked a paradigm shift in medical care, generating the need for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard health. This has caused secondary skin manifestations associated with their use. A descriptive cross-sectional investigation was carried out with the objective of characterizing the skin lesions associated with the use of PPE and Staphylococcus aureus infections in 283 nurses. The dermatological diagnosis was made by specialists; the bacteriological culture was performed using sterile cotton swabs or apposition smears on the skin lesion. For the isolation of the genus Staphylococcus, the samples were seeded in phenol red mannitol saline agar, incubating for 24 to 48 hours at 37°C. The identification of S. aureus was carried out by the fermentation of mannitol in the selective agar, the positive reaction of the coagulase test. S. aureus was differentiated from coagulase-negative Staphylococcus using the DNase test. LC-EPI was required in 75.618% of the nurses, of which 92.523% presented symptoms suggestive of secondary bacterial infection, fully confirmed by microbiological culture, identifying S. aureus. It was estimated that more than 60% of the LC-EPI were of a single presentation classified as grade I, mainly affecting the regions: orbital, temporal, nasal, infraorbital, and frontal, associated with the use of glasses/face protectors, hats, and masks as causes of the injuries. The definition of LC-EPI prevention protocols is recommended(AU)

Asociación entre cuidados paliativos y enfermedades crónicas en pacientes Covid persistentes en un hospital ecuatoriano / Association between palliative care and chronic diseases in persistent Covid patients in an Ecuadorian hospital

El empeoramiento del curso de la infección por COVID-19 es favorecido por la comorbilidad con enfermedades crónicas de base, incrementando la letalidad de la enfermedad. Tras la infección por SARS-CoV-2, se ha descrito la persistencia de diversos trastornos relacionados con la enfermedad, denominado síndrome post-COVID-19, cuyos síntomas se presentan frecuentemente en pacientes con una enfermedad inicial grave, siendo responsables de un alto porcentaje de fallecimientos a nivel mundial. Se realizó un estudio en 93 pacientes con síntomas de COVID persistente en los últimos 6 meses y diagnóstico previo de enfermedad crónica, con el fin de determinar la asociación entre cuidados paliativos y enfermedades crónicas en pacientes COVID persistentes en un hospital ecuatoriano. Para ello, se obtuvieron datos clínicos y se aplicó un instrumento con indicadores de cuidados paliativos Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool con 27 items de respuestas dicotómicas. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Los síntomas orgánicos más prevalentes fueron cefalea, ansiedad, depresión, tos; destacando el dolor y la fatiga entre los sistémicos. Se obtuvo una mayor prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas en mujeres y pacientes mayores de 65 años, además un alto porcentaje de pacientes con enfermedades crónicas presentó más de una comorbilidad y requiere cuidados paliativos. El estudio demuestra una asociación directa entre los cuidados paliativos y la comorbilidad por enfermedades crónicas en pacientes COVID persistentes; sustentada en la necesidad de atenuar los síntomas y mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes afectados(AU)

The worsening of the course of the COVID-19 infection is favored by comorbidity with underlying chronic diseases, increasing the lethality of the disease. After SARS-CoV-2 infection, the persistence of various disorders related to the disease has been described, called post-COVID-19 syndrome, whose symptoms frequently occur in patients with severe initial disease, being responsible for a high percentage of deaths worldwide. A study was conducted in 93 patients with symptoms of persistent COVID in the last 6 months and a previous diagnosis of chronic disease, in order to determine the association between palliative care and chronic diseases in persistent COVID patients in an Ecuadorian hospital. In order to do this, clinical data were obtained and an instrument with Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool was applied with 27 dichotomous response items. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The most prevalent organic symptoms were headache, anxiety, depression, cough; highlighting the pain and fatigue among the systemic. A higher prevalence of chronic diseases was obtained in women and patients older than 65 years, in addition, a high percentage of patients with chronic diseases presented more than one comorbidity and required palliative care. The study demonstrates a direct association between palliative care and chronic disease comorbidity in persistent COVID patients; based on the need to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of affected patients.(AU)

Actitudes de la enfermería comunitaria ante intervenciones ambientales para la promoción de la salud / Community nursing attitudes towards environmental interventions for health promotion

Un estimado de 12 millones y medio de muertes anuales, las cuales representan casi la cuarta parte de la letalidad global, se atribuyen a ambientes no saludables. La OMS identificó factores medioambientales susceptibles a gestión o cambio, que pueden ser modificados mediante intervenciones clave, a fin de disminuir la morbimortalidad de un centenar de enfermedades o afecciones. Este estudio tuvo como finalidad comparar y analizar las actitudes del personal de enfermería comunitaria sobre intervenciones ambientales para la prevención de enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias, condiciones neonatales y nutricionales, y enfermedades no transmisibles; ya que en la medida que estuvieran predispuestos y tuvieran una actitud positiva hacia las intervenciones, esto debería influir en su conducta proactiva y en sus próximas actividades de promoción de la salud. La muestra final de 158 participantes estuvo compuesta por 21 enfermeros y 137 enfermeras, con edades comprendidas entre 22 y 53 años, con una mediana de 29 años (±6,74). Para la elaboración del cuestionario de actitudes se tomó como base la sección "Enfermedades y lesiones e intervenciones ambientales clave" del informe global de la OMS titulado "Prevenir enfermedades mediante ambientes saludables" Se obtuvieron los índices de actitud por intervención y categoría de acuerdo al modelo propuesto por Manassero & Vásquez. Los resultados mostraron que los índices actitudinales, para la categoria "adecuada" son positivos y los más altos, ligeramente positivos los de las plausible y levemente negativos para "ingenuas", es decir, los enfermeros, pueden identificar acciones adecuadas con mayor facilidad, se le dificulta identificar las frases plausibles y más las ingenuas. Lo que permite comprobar que las actitudes de los enfermeros pueden ser paradójicas y confusas. Siendo evidente la necesidad de realizar sesiones educativas continúos y acorde con las actualizaciones científicas y políticas internacionales y nacionales. Se recomienda incluir la reflexión explícita y personal como instrumento básico para lograr el cambio actitudinal(AU)

An estimated of 12.5 million annual deaths, which represent nearly a quarter of global fatalities, are attributed to unhealthy environments. WHO identified environmental factors susceptible to management or change, which can be modified through key interventions, in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of a hundred diseases or conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the attitudes of community nursing staff regarding environmental interventions for the prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases, neonatal and nutritional conditions, and non-communicable diseases; since to the extent that they were predisposed and had a positive attitude towards the interventions, this should influence their proactive behavior and their next health promotion activities. The final sample of 158 participants was made up of 21 male nurses and 137 female nurses, aged between 22 and 53 years, with a median of 29 years (±6.74). For the elaboration of the questionnaire of attitudes, the section "Diseases and injuries and key environmental interventions" of the WHO global report entitled "Preventing diseases through healthy environments" was taken as a basis. Attitude indices were obtained by intervention and category according to the model proposed by Manassero & Vásquez. The results showed that the attitudinal indices for the "adequate" category are positive and the highest, slightly positive for the plausible and slightly negative for "naive", that is, the nurses, can more easily identify appropriate actions, It makes it difficult for him to identify plausible sentences and more naive ones. This allows verifying that nurses' attitudes can be paradoxical and confusing. Being evident the need to carry out continuous educational sessions and in accordance with international and national scientific and political updates. It is recommended to include explicit and personal reflection as a basic instrument to achieve attitudinal change(AU)

High Prevalence of Mansonella ozzardi Infection in the Amazon Region, Ecuador.

We reviewed Giemsa-stained thick blood smears, obtained through the national malaria surveillance program in the Amazon region of Ecuador, by light microscopy for Mansonella spp. microfilariae. Of 2,756 slides examined, 566 (20.5%) were positive. Nested PCR confirmed that the microfilariae were those of M. ozzardi nematodes, indicating that this parasite is endemic to this region.

First Detection of the CTXM-15 Producing Escherichia coli O25-ST131 Pandemic Clone in Ecuador.

Our aim was identify of the pandemic B2-ST131 Escherichia coli clone by to the Institute Pasteur and Achtman scheme, and investigate the resistance profile phenotypic-genotypic, with identification of class 1 integron. Of thirty-five ESBL-producing isolates recovered of patients with diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI), six E. coli strains serotype O25 were identified with resistance antimicrobial to several groups of antibiotics such as broad-spectrum cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, harboring blaSHV, blaCTX-M genes in all isolates and blaTEM in two isolates. Sequencing of blaCTX-M revealed CTX-M-15 in all strains. The PMQR aac(6´)-Ib-cr and qnrB19 genes were presented in five and four isolates respectively, AMEs genes aac(6´)-Ib and aac(3)-IIa were presented in strain amikacin-gentamicin-resistant. Sequencing of the variable regions of the class 1 integron revealed dfrA and aadA genes cassette. The analysis of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) confirms the presence of the pandemic B2-ST131 E. coli clone by Achtman scheme in all ST43 isolates obtained by of the Institute Pasteur scheme. The results presented herein, reveal the presence of B2-ST131 E. coli clone in Ecuador, disseminated in hospitals and community settings.