Los pediatras y el sostenimiento del medioambiente / Pediatricians and the sustainability of the environment

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La comunicación educativa, herramienta de gestión ambiental y vía para disminuir enfermedades de transmisión hídrica / The educational communication for environmental management and to diminish water transmitted diseases

Se presenta el diseño e implementación de una estrategia de comunicación educativa dirigida a la población del Consejo Popular Pueblo Nuevo, en la ciudad de Holguín, Cuba, con el objetivo de contribuir a la gestión ambiental de las aguas subterráneas, elevar el nivel de conocimiento y concientización sobre el uso y manejo del recurso agua, disminuir los índices de enfermedades de transmisión hídrica y mejorar la calidad de vida de la población. Esta problemática fue identificada en investigaciones realizadas con anterioridad y se corroboró a través de un diagnóstico realizado en el 2009, que comprendió el período de análisis desde el 2006, sobre la base de observaciones, encuestas y entrevistas, en las que se señaló el mal manejo de las aguas producido por el desconocimiento de la población, y las graves consecuencias que esto trae para la salud y el medio ambiente. La implementación se llevó a efecto en el período 2010 - 2011, y luego de evaluada se observaron conductas positivas y una disminución de las enfermedades de transmisión hídrica en la población de dicho Consejo Popular(AU)

With the aim to contribute to the environmental management of underground waters, to raise the level of knowledge and awareness on the wise use and management of this natural resource, to diminish the incidence of water transmitted diseases and to improve the life quality of people, is presented a design and implementation of an educational communication strategy addressed to the people from Pueblo Nuevo Popular Council at Holguín city, Cuba. This problem was identified in investigations carried out previously and it was corroborated through a diagnosis carried out in 2009 base on a period of analysis from 2006, on the base of observations, surveys and interviews, in those that was pointed out, a wrong management of the waters due to the lack of population's awareness, and the serious consequences that this brings for health and the environment. The implementation was carried out from 2010 to 2011 and after the evaluation; a positive responsible behaviour and a decrease of water transmitted diseases were observed in the population of this Popular Council(AU)

Evaluación de bioaerosoles en ambientes de centros de salud de la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela / Evaluation of bioaerosoles in health center environments in the city of Valencia, Venezuela

Los establecimientos de atención en salud son entornos donde se congregan pacientes que en menor o mayor grado presentan compromisos inmunológicos. En este contexto, el ambiente hospitalario resulta un espacio donde podrían adquirir infecciones nosocomiales con el consiguiente deterioro del cuadro clínico preexistente. En el presente estudio se realizaron evaluaciones en ambientes hospitalarios de centros de salud ubicados en la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela, tomando en cuenta áreas críticas como quirófanos. Para la captación de las muestras se tomó en cuenta las metodologías establecidas en las Normas Técnicas Españolas. La captación del aire sobre los medios de cultivo Nutritivoy Sabouraud se incubaron a 37°C de 24-72 horas, para determinar UFC/m3 de aire. Conjuntamente se midió la temperatura y humedad relativa. La identificación microbiológica se realizó utilizando galerias bioquímicas automatizadas (API). De los 6 centros hospitalarios evaluados, 5 quirófanos presentaron más de 10 UFC/m3 de aerobios mesófilos y más de 20 UFC/m3 de población fúngica, cuyo rango debería ser menor a 10UFC/m3. Los microorganismos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron: Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Acinetobacter lowfii, Aspergillus nidulans, A. terreus y Geotrichum candidum. Las medidas de temperatura fueron mayores a 20°C y la humedad relativa mayor a 45%, siendo el rango establecido por la NTP 409 para la temperatura entre 15-18°C, y 50-70% en cuanto a la humedad relativa. Se infiere que existe poco compromiso en aplicar las medidas correctas para cumplir a cabalidad con las normas de manipulación de pacientes en áreas críticas, lo que propicia un entorno favorable para el desarrollo microbiano, además de factores como temperatura, humedad relativa, sistemas de climatización, que no cumplen con lo indicado según las normas técnicas Internacionales

Health center facilities are areas where patients who have a greater or lesser degree of immunological compromise congregate. In this context, the hospital environment is a space where nosocomial diseases could be acquired causing deterioration of the preexistent clinical condition. This study carried out evaluations in hospital environments at health centers in the city of Valencia, Venezuela, taking into account critical areas such as operating theatres. For sample collection, methodologies established by the Spanish Technical Standards were taken into account. The air samples taken over Nutritivo and Sabouraud cultivation media were incubated at 37°C for 24-72 hours, to determine the UFC/m3 for the air. Following a 24-hour incubation at 37°C, the bacterial charges (UFC/m3) were determined. Additionally, temperature and relative humidity were measured. Taxonomical identification was achieved through a computerized biochemical test (API galleries). Five out of the six health centers evidenced more than 10UFC/m3 and 20 UFC/m3 for the bacterial and fungal charges, respectively. These values are higher than those allowed by official legislation. The most frequently detected microorganisms were Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Acinetobacter lowfii, Aspergillus nidulans, A. terreus and Geotrichum candidum. The temperature and relative humidity were always higher than 20°C and 45%, whereas ranges established by the NTP 409 norm are 15-18ºC and 50-70%, respectively. It seems there is little commitment to applying correct measures to comply fully with standards for patient handling in critical areas, favoring an environment conducive to microbial development, as well as factors such as temperature, relative humidity and air conditioning systems, which do not comply with what is indicated in international technical standards

Aggression and dominance in cichlids in resident-intruder tests: the role of environmental enrichment

When establishing dominance residents have a greater likelihood to dominate intruders than vice versa, partially because the resident has more to loose that the intruder has to win. This is known as the prior residency effect. In environmentally rich environments this effect should be stronger than in poor environments. Recently Kadry & Barreto (2010, Neotrop Ichthyol 8: 329-332) tested this in the pearl cichlid Geophagus brasiliensis (17 test pairs) and reported that environmental enrichment led to a reduction of aggression. We here present data on four other cichlids (332 test pairs) showing a stronger prior residency effect in enriched conditions, and, for two species, an increase in aggression. We discuss possible reasons for the differences between studies, focussing on the relationship between aggression and dominance and sample size effects.

No estabelecimento de dominancia, residentes têm uma maior probabilidade de dominar os intrusos que vice-versa, em parte porque o residente tem mais a perder que o invasor tem a ganhar. Isto é conhecido como o efeito de residência prévia. Em ambientes ecologicamente ricos esse efeito deve ser mais forte do que em ambientes pobres. Recentemente Kadry & Barreto (2010, Neotrop. Ichthyol. 8: 329-332) testaram isso no cará Geophagus brasiliensis (17 pares de teste) e relataram que o enriquecimento ambiental levou a uma redução de agressão. Aqui apresentamos dados de quatro outros ciclídeos (332 pares de teste), mostrando um efeito mais forte de residência prévia em condições enriquecidas, e, para duas espécies, o aumento da agressão. Discutimos possíveis razões para as diferenças entre os estudos, concentrando-nos sobre a relação entre agressão e dominação e os efeitos do tamanho da amostra.