Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in preschool-children from vulnerable neighborhoods in Bogotá / Prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en niños preescolares de barrios vulnerables de Bogotá

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are neglected tropical diseases, even though their prevalence is high in many developing countries. The public health impact of IPIs is substantial, in particular for children due to the negative effect on growth and development. Objectives: This study examines the prevalence and risk factors of IPIs in preschool-children from at-risk neighborhoods, including those from internally displaced families. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 239 preschool-children from two vulnerable neighborhoods in Bogotá. Fecal samples were collected and microscopically examined (direct and Ritchie technique) and data regarding related factors was obtained through a questionnaire. Results: A prevalence of 26.4% for pathogenic parasites (Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis spp, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Hymenolepis nana) was found. Logistic regression resulted in four risk factors: siblings ≤5 years (OR 2.33 [1.077-5.021]), stray dogs (OR 2.91 [0.867-9.767]), household members (OR 2.57 [1.155-5.706]) and child's sex (OR 2.17 [1.022-4.615]). Discussion: IPI presence in preschool children is an important health issue in Bogotá which should be addressed. A high protozoan prevalence was found compared to helminthes. Implementing policies addressing risk factors could be a first step in decreasing IPI prevalence.

Introducción: Infecciones parasitarias intestinales (IPI) son enfermedades tropicales desatendidas, a pesar de que su prevalencia es alta en muchos países en desarrollo. El impacto en la salud pública de los IPI es importante, especialmente para los niños debido al efecto negativo sobre el crecimiento y el desarrollo. Objectivos: Este estudio examina la prevalencia y factores de riesgo de IPI en niños preescolares de barrios en riesgo, incluidos los de las familias desplazadas. Materiales y Métodos: estudio transversal entre 239 niños preescolares de dos barrios vulnerables de Bogotá. Se recogieron muestras fecales y se examinaron microscópicamente utilizando dos técnicas (directa y Ritchie). Se aplicó cuestionario para indagar factores relacionados con el parasitismo intestinal. Resultados: Se encontró una prevalencia de 26,4% de parásitos intestinales patógenos (Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis spp, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides y Hymenolepis nana). La regresión logística resultó en cuatro factores de riesgo: hermanos ≤5 años (OR 2.33 [1.077-5.021]), los perros callejeros (OR 2.91 [0.867-9.767]), los ocupantes de la casa (OR 2.57 [1.155-5.706]) y el sexo del niño/a (OR 2.17 [1.022-4.615]). Discusión: La presencia del IPI en los niños preescolar es un problema de salud importante en Bogotá y que debe abordarse. Una alta prevalencia de protozoos se encontró comparado con helmintos. La implementación de políticas que aborden los factores de riesgo podría ser un primer paso en la disminución de la prevalencia del IPI. El antecedente de desplazamiento no cambio ni el tipo de parásito ni la prevalencia de parasitismo.

New echinocandin susceptibility patterns for nosocomial Candida albicans in Bogotá, Colombia, in ten tertiary care centres: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans remains as the first cause of nosocomial fungal infections in hospitals worldwide and its susceptibility pattern should be better described in our tertiary care hospitals. METHODS: This study aimed at identifying the caspofungin susceptibility pattern regarding nosocomial Candida albicans infection in ten tertiary care hospitals using the methodology proposed by CLSI M27-A3 and CLSI M27-S4, and its association with risk factors and clinical outcome. The approach involved descriptive research concerning the diagnosis of nosocomial infection during a 7-month period in 10 hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia. Associations were established using exact non-parametric statistical tests having a high statistical power (>95%), suitable for small samples. The exact Mann Whitney test or Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric ANOVA tests were used for distributions which were different to normal or ordinal variables when comparing three or more groups. Multivariate analysis involved using binomial, multinomial and ordinal exact logistical regression models (hierarchical) and discrimination power was evaluated using area under the ROC curve. RESULTS: 101 nosocomial infections were found in 82,967 discharges, for a Candida spp. infection rate of 12.2 per 10,000 discharges, 30.7% caused by C. albicans, 22.8% by C. tropicalis, 20.8% by C. parapsilosis, 19.8% by other Candida, 3% by C. krusei and 3% by C. glabrata. Statistically significant associations between mortality rate and the absence of parenteral nutrition were found in multivariate analysis (OR = 39.746: 1.794-880.593 95% CI: p = 0.020). The model's predictive power was 83.9%, having an 85.9% significant prediction area (69.5%-100 95% CI; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found regarding susceptibility results when comparing CLSI M27-A3 to CLSI M27-S4 when shifting clinical break-point values. However, one nosocomial strain was consistent in having reduced susceptibility when using both guidelines without having been directly exposed to echinocandins beforehand and no mutations were found in the FKS1 gene for hot spot 1 and/or hot spot 2 regions, thereby highlighting selective pressure regarding widespread antifungal use in tertiary healthcare centres. Nutritional conditions and low family income were seen to have a negative effect on survival rates.

Evaluación de la actividad antibacterial de los extractos de cuerpos grasos y hemolinfa derivados de la mosca Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Diptera: Calliphoridae) / Assessment of antibacterial activity by fat bodies extracts and hemolymph derived from the blowfly Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Objetivo: Evaluar, en condiciones in vitro , la actividad antibacterial de los extractos de cuerpos grasos y de la hemolinfa de larvas de tercer estadio de Sarconesiopsis magellanica , la cual se comparó con los efectos obtenidos de las mismas sustancias derivadas de Lucilia sericata . S. magellanica (Diptera: Calliphoridae) es una mosca de importancia principalmente forense, utilizada en la determinación del intervalo post mortem . Por sus hábitos necrófagos, es considerada un modelo potencialmente útil en terapia larval. Material y métodos: Se extrajeron los cuerpos grasos de las larvas mediante la técnica de disección corporal y la hemolinfa se obtuvo mediante decapitación y centrifugación de los especímenes larvales. Las bacterias evaluadas fueron Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Los métodos utilizados para evaluar la actividad antibacterial fueron difusión en agar y unidades formadoras de colonias (UFC/ml). Resultados: Después de la correspondiente incubación, los resultados generales mostraron que la actividad antibacterial de la hemolinfa y de los cuerpos grasos, tanto de L. sericata como de S. magellanica , fueron efectivos contra S. aureus y P. aeruginosa sin diferencias significativas entre las especies de moscas, aunque con algunas diferencias entre las cepas bacterianas. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que estas sustancias podrían tener un efecto similar en el tratamiento de heridas infectadas contra los microorganismos evaluados.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of fat body and hemolymph extracts from Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Diptera: Calliphoridae) third-instar larvae, compared to the effect obtained using the same extracts but derived from Lucilia sericata . S. magellanica blowflies are considered important in forensic sciences due to their usefulness in determining the post mortem interval. This blowfly could be useful in larval therapy due to its necrophagous habits. Materials and methods: Fat body from larvae was removed by dissection, and hemolymph via decapitation and centrifugation of larval specimens. The antibacterial effect was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using two methods: agar diffusion and colony forming units (CFU/mL). Results: Hemolymph and fat body extracts derived from both L. sericata and S. magellanica were effective against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa , with no significant differences between blowfly species, although with some differences between the bacterial strains. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that S. magellanica and L. sericata fat body and hemolymph extracts might have a similar antimicrobial activity against these microorganisms when used to treat infected wounds.

Infecciones recurrentes por staphylococcus aureus en paciente con piercing nasal asociado al estado de portador: estudio de caso / Recurrent Infections by Staphylococcus Aureus in Patients with Nasal Piercing Associated to the State of the Carrier: Study of Case

Paciente de sexo femenino de veinte años de edad, natural y procedente de Bogotá, D.C., quien consulta por cuadro clínico de 8 días de evolución consistente en aparición de masa indurada localizada en línea media de la región lumbar a nivel de la quinta vértebra, con eritema y dolor. Antecedentes patológicos: asma en la infancia, acné juvenil y sinusitis crónica. Tóxicos: fumadora ocasional de dos cigarrillos al día desde hace dos años. Además, se realizó una perforación o piercing nasal donde usa un adorno metálico desde hace un año. La masa ha aumentado de tamaño tornándose más dolorosa e impidiendo parcialmente la bipedestación. Desde hace tres días refiere presencia de escaso exudado purulento, sin más síntomas relevantes.

Twenty-year-old female patient from Bogotá, D.C., who consults for clinical symptoms of 8 days of evolution consisting of the appearance of an indurated mass located in the midline of the lumbar region at the level of the fifth vertebra, with erythema and pain. Pathologic history: childhood asthma, juvenile acne and chronic sinusitis. Toxic: occasional smoker of two cigarettes a day for two years. In addition, she has had a nasal piercing where she has been wearing a metal ornament for the past year. The mass has increased in size, becoming more painful and partially preventing her from standing upright. For the last three days she reports the presence of scarce purulent exudate, with no other relevant symptoms.

Infecciones recurrentes en paciente con piercing nasal / Recurrent Infection in a Nasal Piercing User

Paciente de sexo femenino de veinte años de edad, natural y procedente de Bogotá, D.C., quien consulta por cuadro clínico de 8 días de evolución consistente en aparición de masa indurada localizada en línea media de la región lumbar a nivel de la quinta vértebra, con eritema y dolor. Antecedentes patológicos: asma en la infancia, acné juvenil y sinusitis crónica. Tóxicos: fumadora ocasional de dos cigarrillos al día desde hace dos años. Además, se realizó una perforación o piercing nasal donde usa un ador-no metálico desde hace un año. La masa ha aumentado de tamaño tornándose más dolorosa e impidiendo parcialmente la bipedestación. Des-de hace tres días refiere presencia de escaso exudado purulento, sin más síntomas relevantes.

Twenty-year-old female patient from Bogotá, D.C., who consults for clinical symptoms of 8 days of evolution consisting of the appearance of an indurated mass located in the midline of the lumbar region at the level of the fifth vertebra, with erythema and pain. Pathologic history: childhood asthma, juvenile acne and chronic sinusitis. Toxic: occasional smoker of two cigarettes a day for two years. In addition, she has had a nasal piercing where she has been wearing a metal stud for the past year. The mass has increased in size, becoming more painful and partially preventing her from standing upright. Three days ago, she reported the presence of scarce purulent exudate, with no other relevant symptoms.