A efetividade social e a concessão do saneamento à iniciativa privada: o caso do leilão da CEDAE no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Social effectiveness and private sanitation concessions: the CEDAE auction in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resumo A alteração no marco legal do saneamento (Lei 14.026, de 15 de julho de 2020) passou a exigir licitação no Brasil, mesmo nos casos de prestação do serviço de saneamento antes delegada pelos municípios às companhias estaduais, mediante contrato de programa. O objetivo foi identificar os atores que se beneficiaram com a mudança na lei e observar a efetividade social do processo de desestatização, que ocorreu em abril de 2021 com o leilão dos serviços de abastecimento de água e esgotamento sanitário prestados pela Companhia Estadual de Águas e Esgotos do Rio de Janeiro (CEDAE) em 35 municípios do estado. Adotou-se a análise exploratória de dados secundários e a metodologia da integração sistêmica, que possibilita identificar o papel e a atuação de atores sociais na concessão dos serviços operados pela CEDAE no Rio de Janeiro. Concluiu-se que os governos federal, estadual e municipais, o Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social e grupos privados ganharam com as concessões, mas quanto à efetividade social dos serviços, observou-se que é menor a proporção de população de baixa renda com redes de afastamento do esgoto sanitário nos municípios do estado operados pela iniciativa privada e que as tarifas praticadas são em média maiores ao comparar com os municípios que participaram do leilão.

Abstract Changes in the regulatory and legal framework for Brazil's water and sanitation sector (Law 14,026, July 15, 2020) require competitive bidding for service contracts, even in cases where the provision of services was previously delegated to state-owned utilities under program contracts. The aim of this study was to identify the actors who benefited from these changes to the legislation and assess the social effectiveness of the privatization of water supply and sewerage services in the state of Rio de Janeiro by investigating the auction of services provided by the public utility CEDAE in four blocks comprising 35 municipalities in April 2021. We conducted an exploratory analysis of secondary data and used the systemic integration method to identify the main actors involved in the concession process and the role they played. It is concluded that federal, state, and municipal governments, the Brazilian Development Bank, and the concessionaires have gained from the concessions, while the percentage of low-income populations connected to the sewage collection or drainage network is lower and tariffs are higher in municipalities served by the private sector when compared to the municipalities encompassed by the auction.

De cómo se gestó el alcantarillado de Santiago de Chile / About how was gestated the sewerage in Santiago de Chile

Resumen Puede considerarse que la red de acequias, diseñada por el alarife Gamboa en 1541 junto con el plano de los solares de la recién fundada ciudad de Santiago, fue el esqueleto que al correr de los siglos llevaría a la construcción de un alcantarillado. Durante el período colonial estas acequias, destinadas a aportar agua a las chacras, servirían para llevarse los desechos, no sólo orgánicos, sino de todo tipo, generando abusos y litigios entre los vecinos, que se intentaba controlar con múltiples leyes y reglamentos. El agua para beber, extraída del río Mapocho, era nauseabunda y fuente de infecciones entéricas, siendo mejor -y más cara- la acarreada desde las quebradas cordilleranas, como la de Ramón. Con el advenimiento de la República en el siglo XIX nació la preocupación por tener una estructura sanitaria similar a la europea, culminando con la idea de tener una red de alcantarillado, cuya construcción se iniciaría recién en 1905, luego de una larga discusión de varios proyectos.

Abstract It is possible to estimate as the skeleton for the body of one future sewerage in Santiago (Chile) the web of irrigation ditches designed for the "alarife" (a primitive architect) Gamboa in 1541. Along the three centuries of the colonial period, the ditches not only distributed water for the familial cultures, but also got away from the houses all kind of residues, not only organic, being a fountain of conflicts and fights between the neighbors, that multiple laws and warnings could not ever resolve. The water for drink was taken from the dirty Mapocho River, full of enteric bacteria, with the consequences of Salmonella and Shigella infections, being better but more expensive the water from the ravines near the city, transported on mules or horses. With the arrival of the Republic in 1810, the idea of a sewerage for Santiago similar to the Europeans was growing, and after one discussion and another, and after one project and another, its building started on 1905.

Efluentes hospitalarios como reservorio de enterobacterias productoras de betalactamasas y carbapenemasas / Hospital effluents as a reservoir of beta-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Con el objetivo de determinar la presencia de enterobacterias productoras de betalactamasas (bla) en muestras de efluentes hospitalarios, se realizó un estudio en dos hospitales de nivel II y III de Lima, Perú. Se identificó y caracterizó el perfil de resistencia de las bacterias aisladas mediante el sistema MicroScan para 18 antimicrobianos, y mediante PCR convencional se determinó la presencia de los genes de resistencia a betalactamasas de espectro de extendido (BLEE) (bla CTX-M, bla SHV, bla TEM, bla PER) y carbapenemasas (bla KPC , bla NDM , bla VIM , bla IMP). Se identificaron 32 aislados (20 enterobacterias y 12 bacterias gramnegativas). Todas las bacterias aisladas presentaron multirresistencia. Se halló la presencia de genes BLEE (bla TEM) y carbapenemasas (bla KPC y bla IMP) en los hospitales evaluados. La liberación de estos microorganismos a la vía pública y la falta de tratamiento de los efluentes hospitalarios podría ser un importante problema de salud pública.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of beta-lactamase- (bla) producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospital effluent samples from two level II and III hospitals in Lima, Peru. The resistance profile of the isolated bacteria was identified and characterized using the MicroScan system for 18 antimicrobials, and the presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) (blaCTX-M ,bla SHV bla TEM ,bla PER) and carbapenemases (bla KPC ,bla NDM ,bla VIM ,bla IMP) resistance genes was determined by conventional PCR. Thirty-two isolates were identified (20 Enterobacteriaceae and 12 gram-negative bacteria). All the isolated bacteria showed multidrug resistance. ESBL (bla TEM) and carbapenemase (blaKPC, blaIMP) genes were found in samples from the hospitals that we evaluated. The release of these microorganisms to public areas and the lack of treatment of the hospital effluents could be an important public health problem.

Caminhos para viabilização da convergência de interesses na despoluição do Rio Guandu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Paths to convergence of interests in depollution of the Guandu River in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Caminos para hacer viable la convergencia de intereses en la descontaminación del Río Guandú, Río de Janeiro, Brasil

Resumo: Em janeiro de 2020, a população da Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, foi submetida a uma deterioração da qualidade da água, causada pela presença de geosmina, que comprometeu o processo de tratamento de água da Estação de Tratamento de Água do Guandu, único manancial desta região. Esse fenômeno é consequência da falta de investimento em esgotamento sanitário ao longo da bacia do Rio Guandu, que antes afetava apenas a população predominantemente de baixa renda. Este artigo objetiva identificar o papel e a atuação dos diferentes atores sociais, por meio da adoção da metodologia de Integração Sistêmica, para viabilizar a convergência de interesses destes atores no sentido de priorizar e concretizar a despoluição do Rio Guandu. Foram segregados dois grupos: aqueles que devem trabalhar articuladamente para o sucesso do empreendimento, composto por todos os órgãos de planejamento, operação, regulação e fiscalização, e os atores capazes de alavancar politicamente e viabilizar sua realização, que são os influentes setores sociais, políticos, econômicos e midiáticos. Chegou-se ao entendimento de que a crise de abastecimento de água pode se repetir sazonalmente caso nada seja feito, podendo este ser o elemento capaz de prover a nunca antes alcançada convergência de interesses dos setores influentes para realizar o investimento em infraestrutura de esgotamento sanitário que reverta a degradação da bacia, requisito para resolver a crise de água no Rio de Janeiro.

Abstract: In January 2020, the population of Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, suffered deterioration in the quality of the public water supply, caused by the presence of geosmin, which compromised the water treatment process at the Guandu Water Treatment Plant, the only water source in the region. The phenomenon results from lack of investment in sewage infrastructure in the Guandu River Basin, which previously affected only the predominantly low-income population. The article aims to identify different social actors' roles and actions, using the Systemic Integration methodology, to allow convergence of their interests for prioritizing and achieving depollution of the Guandu River. Two distinct groups were identified: those who need to collaborate to achieve success with the initiative, consisting of planning, operations, and inspection agencies, and actors capable of politically leveraging and enabling the initiative, namely influential social, political, economic, and media sectors. In conclusion, the water supply crisis may recur seasonally if nothing is done and may thus be the element capable of leading to a convergence of interests among influential sectors for investment in sewage infrastructure to reverse the river basin's degradation, a requirement to solve the water crisis in Rio de Janeiro.

Resumen: En enero de 2020, la población de la Región Metropolitana de Río de Janeiro, Brasil, estuvo afectada por un deterioro de la calidad del agua, causada por la presencia de geosmina, que comprometió el proceso de tratamiento de agua de la Estación de Tratamiento de Agua del Guandú, único manantial de esa región. Este fenómeno es consecuencia de la falta de inversión en el alcantarillado sanitario, a lo largo de la cuenca del Río Guandú, que antes afectaba solamente a la población predominantemente de baja renta. El objetivo de este artículo fue identificar el papel y la actuación de los diferentes actores sociales, mediante la adopción de la metodología de integración sistémica, para viabilizar la convergencia de intereses de estos actores, en el sentido de priorizar y concretizar la descontaminación del Río Guandú. Fueron diferenciados dos grupos: aquellos que deben trabajar coordinadamente para el éxito de la empresa, compuesto por todos los órganos de planificación, operación, regulación y fiscalización, y los actores capaces de impulsar políticamente y viabilizar su realización, que son los influyentes sectores sociales, políticos, económicos y mediáticos. Se llegó al compromiso de que la crisis de abastecimiento de agua puede repetirse estacionalmente, en caso de que no se haga nada, y puede ser el elemento capaz de conseguir la nunca antes alcanzada convergencia de intereses de los sectores influyentes para realizar la inversión en infraestructura de alcantarillado sanitario que revierta la degradación de la bahía, requisito para resolver consecuentemente la crisis de agua en Río de Janeiro.

Características das empresas de saneamento associadas à fluoretação da água dos sistemas de abastecimento de municípios do Brasil, 2008 / Characteristics of sanitation companies associated to water fluoridation of the supply systems of Brazilian municipalities, 2008

RESUMO: Introdução: Avaliou-se o efeito ajustado das características das empresas de saneamento na provisão da fluoretação da água de abastecimento público nos municípios brasileiros. Métodos: Estudo ecológico transversal com base no Censo Demográfico 2010, Pesquisa Nacional de Saneamento Básico 2008 e Atlas de Desenvolvimento Humano 2010. As variáveis independentes foram as características das empresas e dos municípios e o desfecho foi a falta de provisão da fluoretação. Estimou-se a razão de prevalência por meio de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Resultados: Incluíram-se 5.565 municípios brasileiros. Na análise ajustada, o desfecho foi independente e positivamente associado com municípios das macrorregiões Norte, Nordeste, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste, que tinham taxas de cobertura de serviços de água e esgoto abaixo do valor mediano, menos de 10 mil habitantes e índice médio e baixo/muito baixo de desenvolvimento humano. Quanto ao efeito independente das características das empresas, tiveram maior probabilidade de não ofertar fluoretação todas as empresas classificadas como de administração indireta do poder público, ou sociedade de economia mista, ou economia mista de caráter público; as municipais e intermunicipais (razão de prevalência - RP = 1,21; intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 1,19 - 1,23); e a prefeitura, quando única executora (RP = 1,22; IC95% 1,20 - 1,25). Conclusão: A falta de provisão da fluoretação da água foi maior quando o serviço era prestado preponderantemente por administrações municipais e empresas privadas, associadas ou não a entidades públicas, independentemente das características dos municípios.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: The adjusted effect of the characteristics of sanitation companies on the provision of fluoridation into public water supply in Brazilian municipalities was evaluated. Methods: Cross-sectional and ecological study based on the 2010 Demographic Census, 2008 National Survey on Basic Sanitation (PNSB), and 2010 Atlas of Human Development. The independent variables were the characteristics of utilities and municipalities, and the outcome was the lack of provision of fluoridation. Prevalence ratio was estimated with Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: 5,565 Brazilian municipalities were included. In the adjusted analysis, the outcome was independently and positively associated to municipalities in the North, Northeast, Central-West and Southeast macro-regions, with coverage rates for water and sewage services below the median value, with less than 10,000 inhabitants, medium and low/very low in human development. Regarding the independent effect of the utilities' characteristics, they were more likely not to provide fluoridation, all the companies that were not classified as indirect administration of the government or mixed-capital company or mixed-capital company of public character; municipal and intermunicipal (PR=1.21; 95%CI 1.19-1.23); and when the municipal government is the only provider (PR=1.22; 95%CI 1.20-1.25). Conclusion: The lack of provision of water fluoridation was greater when the service was mainly provided by municipal administrations and private companies associated or not to public entities, regardless of the characteristics of the municipalities.

Indicador de salubridade ambiental em 21 municípios do estado de Goiás com serviços públicos de saneamento básico operados pelas prefeituras / Health environmental indicator in 21 municipalities in the state of Goiás with basic public sanitation services operated by the prefectures

RESUMO Este trabalho avaliou as condições de salubridade ambiental de 21 municípios do estado de Goiás com serviços públicos de saneamento básico operados diretamente pelas prefeituras. Utilizou-se o Indicador de Salubridade Ambiental proposto pelo Conselho Estadual de Saneamento do Estado de São Paulo, adaptado conforme a disponibilidade dos dados existentes. As situações encontradas foram: 9,5% dos municípios salubres, 28,6% com média salubridade e 61,9% com baixa salubridade, sendo que os indicadores que mais influenciaram os resultados foram os de esgotamento sanitário e resíduos sólidos. O estudo mostrou a importância das pesquisas sobre a situação de salubridade e permitiu verificar quais serviços merecem receber intervenções imediatas e, portanto, necessitam de investimento tanto econômico quanto técnico nos sistemas municipais estudados.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the environmental health conditions of 21 municipalities in the state of Goiás with basic public sanitation services operated directly by the Prefectures. The Environmental Health Indicator (ISA) proposed by CONESAN was adapted according to the availability of the existing data. The situations found were: 9.5% of healthy municipalities, 28.6% with average health and 61.9% with low health, and the indicators that most influenced the results were those of sanitary sewage and solid waste. The study showed the importance of researching on the health situation and allowed to verify which services deserve to receive immediate interventions and, therefore, both economic and technical investment in the municipal systems studied.

Evaluation of short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation in Bacillus aryabhattai

Abstract This study was focused on the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation property of Bacillus aryabhattai isolated from environment. Twenty-four polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producers were screened out from sixty-two environmental bacterial isolates based on Sudan Black B colony staining. Based on their PHA accumulation property, six promising isolates were further screened out. The most productive isolate PHB10 was identified as B. aryabhattai PHB10. The polymer production maxima were 3.264 g/L, 2.181 g/L, 1.47 g/L, 1.742 g/L and 1.786 g/L in glucose, fructose, maltose, starch and glycerol respectively. The bacterial culture reached its stationary and declining phases at 18 h and 21 h respectively and indicated growth-associated PHB production. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra confirmed the material as PHB. The material has thermal stability between 30 and 140 °C, melting point at 170 °C and maximum thermal degradation at 287 °C. The molecular weight and poly dispersion index of the polymer were found as 199.7 kDa and 2.67 respectively. The bacterium B. aryabhattai accumulating PHB up to 75% of cell dry mass utilizing various carbon sources is a potential candidate for large scale production of bacterial polyhydroxybutyrate.

Estado del agua para consumo humano y saneamiento en Costa Rica al año 2007 / Water for human consumption and sanitation in Costa rica, 2007

El objetivo es describir la situación de cobertura y calidad del agua para consumo humano, ACH y disposición de excretas, o aguas residuales ordinarias, en Costa Rica al año 2007. Para cumplir con el objetivo de este estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo, se aplicaron los siguientes pasos: A. Se aprovecharon los datos históricos de los Programas de Vigilancia y Control de la Calidad del Agua, desarrollados por el Laboratorio Nacional de Aguas, LNA. B. La información existente sobre la cobertura de los diferentes mecanismos de disposición de excretas en el AyA, OPS e INEC. C. La evolución de las coberturas de agua de calidad suministrada por los diferentes administradores de los servicios de agua potable, se elaboró mediante los informes anuales de calidad del ACH entre 1989 y el año 2007, elaborados en el Laboratorio Nacional de Agua, LNA. Los resultados indican que Costa Rica tiene una cobertura de ACH del 98.3 por ciento en el 2007, de la cual el 94.3 por ciento es suministrada por conexión intradomiciliar. El 83.5 por ciento del ACH suplida por acueductos fue de calidad potable, mientras que el 82 por ciento de la población total del país recibió agua de calidad potable. En el caso de la disposición de excretas, el 67.3 por ciento de la población lo hacen por medio de tanques sépticos, el 20.1 por ciento por alcantarillado sanitario sin tratamiento, el 4.9 por ciento por alcantarillado sanitario y tratamiento con operación deficiente; además, solamente el 3.5 por ciento de las excretas son evacuadas por alcantarillado con tratamiento eficiente. El 3.4 por ciento lo hacen mediante letrinas. Se recomienda ejecutar el Programa Nacional de Mejoramiento y Sostenibilidad de la Calidad de los Servicios de Agua Potable 2007-2015. Con respecto a la evacuación de excretas, es necesario crear un Programa Nacional de la Disposición de Excretas 2008-2020.

The objetive of this study is to describe the quality of water for human consumption (ACH ), excrement disposal, and sewerage water in Costa Rica, as well as their coverage to the year 2007. In order attain the objective for this descriptive and retrospective study, the following steps were applied: A) Analysis of the historical database from surveillance and water quality control developed by the National Water Laboratory (LNA). B) Analysis of existing information regarding coverage of different mechanisms for excrement disposal in AyA; Pan American Health Organization, and the National Institute for Statistics and Census (INEC). C) Coverage evolution of water quality supplied by drinking water services administrators, which was done by means of annual reports of quality of ACH between 1989 and 2007 as reported by the National Water Laboratory (LNA). The results indicate that Costa Rica has a coverage of ACH of 98,3% in 2007, of which which 94.3% is supplied by household connections. 83.5% of ACH supplied by AyA was drinking water quality, while 82% of total population of the country was supplied with drinking water quality. In the case of excrement disposal, 67.3% of population used septic tanks, 20.1% by sewerage system without any treatment, 4.9% by sewerage system with a poor treatment of sewage water; furthermore, only 3,5% of excrements disposal by sewerage systems are treated with efficient treatment, and 3.4% use letrines. We recommend carrying out the National Programme for Improvement and Quality Sustainability of Drinking Water Services 2007-2015. With respect to excrements disposal, it is necessary to create a Program of National Excrement Disposal 2008-2020.

Viabilidade da regulação subnacional dos serviços de abastecimento de água e esgotamento sanitário sob a Lei 11.445/2007 / Feasibility of sub-national regulation of water supply and sewerage services under Law 11.445/2007

Objetiva-se neste trabalho discutir a viabilidade da regulação subnacional do saneamento básico no País de acordo com o estabelecido na Lei no 11.445/2007. Foi analisada a viabilidade da regulação municipal em 2.523 municípios, com base na amostra do Sistema Nacional de Informações em Saneamento (SNIS) referente a 2005, mediante a aplicação de taxas de regulação de 1 a 3 por cento do faturamento das concessionárias. Concluiu-se que a regulação local não apresenta viabilidade em 97 por cento dos municípios pesquisados.

The objective of this paper is to discuss the feasibility and the alternatives for the sub-national regulation of the basic sanitation in Brazil, as established one in the Law 11.445/2007. We analyze a sample of 2.523 municipalities from the data set of the National System for Information on Water Supply and Sewerage Services (SNIS) of 2005, assuming regulatory fees ranging between 1 percent and 3 percent of the concessionaire’s revenues. We concluded that local regulation was impracticable for 97 percent of the municipalities in the sample.

Incidence of diarrhea in children living in urban slums in Salvador, Brazil

Diarrhea remains a major health issue in developing countries, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Determining the incidence of acute diarrhea in children and its associated factors is crucial to the planning of preventive approaches. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of diarrhea and to assess some relevant associated factors to it in children younger than 40 months living in two slums of Salvador, Brazil. This is the first prospective cohort, community-based study that was performed in two periurban slums of Salvador, Brazil. Eighty-four children younger than 40 months were randomly selected and visited every other day for one year. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the occurrence of diarrhea and its associated factors. During the surveillance period, 232 diarrhea episodes were identified, resulting in an incidence rate of 2.8 episodes/child/year. In average (mean value of 84 children),each child suffered 11.1 days of diarrhea per year, yielding an average duration of 3.9 days per episode. The highest incidence rates were found among children under one year old. Early weaning, male sex, malnutrition, having a mother younger than 25 years or who considered her child malnourished, missed immunizations and previous pneumonia were associated factors for suffering diarrheal episodes. The rates of incidence and duration of diarrhea that we found are in accordance to those reported by others. Additionally, our results reinforce the importance of environmental and health-related associated factors to the onset of diarrhea.

Water quality and concentration of alkylphenols in rivers used as source of drinking water and flowing through urban areas

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To examine nonylphenol (NP) and 4-t-octylphenol (OP) concentrations and general water quality indicators along a river in the greater Tokyo area and to specify the distribution and origin of alkylphenols.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Water was sampled from the Edogawa River, a main river in the greater Tokyo area, which is a source of public drinking water; and the Sakagawa River system, a tributary of the Edogawa River. To determine alkylphenol in river water. NP and OP concentrations were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection rates of NP above the detection limit were 100% in both rivers, and those of OP were 75.0% in the Edogawa River and 92.9% in the Sakagawa River system. The median NP and OP concentrations in the Edogawa River were 0.24 μg/1 and 0.066 μg/l, and those in the Sakagawa River system were 0.87 μg/l and 0.19 μg/l respectively. Alkylphenol concentrations are significantly higher in the Sakagawa River system than in the Edogawa River. In the Sakagawa River system, the NP and OP concentrations were highest in the water along the nonindustrial area with an underdeveloped sewerage system.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NP and OP were detected widely in the Edogawa River and Sakagawa River system. Endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) pollution in a river by the inflow of urban wastewater was demonstrated. A systematic monitoring of alkylphenols in tributary rivers and streams as well as in main rivers will help control EDC pollution and protect the source of drinking water in urban areas.</p>

Water Quality and Concentration of Alkylphenols in Rivers Used as Source of Drinking Water and Flowing through Urban Areas

Objectives: To examine nonylphenol (NP) and 4-t-octylphenol (OP) concentrations and general water quality indicators along a river in the greater Tokyo area and to specify the distribution and origin of alkylphenols. Methods: Water was sampled from the Edogawa River, a main river in the greater Tokyo area, which is a source of public drinking water; and the Sakagawa River system, a tributary of the Edogawa River. To determine alkylphenol in river water, NP and OP concentrations were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The detection rates of NP above the detection limit were 100% in both rivers, and those of OP were 75.0% in the Edogawa River and 92.9% in the Sakagawa River system. The median NP and OP concentrations in the Edogawa River were 0.24 μg/l and 0.066 μg/l, and those in the Sakagawa River system were 0.87 μg/l and 0.19 μg/l respectively. Alkylphenol concentrations are significantly higher in the Sakagawa River system than in the Edogawa River. In the Sakagawa River system, the NP and OP concentrations were highest in the water along the nonindustrial area with an underdeveloped sewerage system. Conclusions: NP and OP were detected widely in the Edogawa River and Sakagawa River system. Endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) pollution in a river by the inflow of urban wastewater was demonstrated. A systematic monitoring of alkylphenols in tributary rivers and streams as well as in main rivers will help control EDC pollution and protect the source of drinking water in urban areas.

Tinea pedis in sewerage workers / 대한피부과학회지

Tinea pedis is frequently found in those people with poor hygine and in hot and humid environments. The authors investigated the clinical, epidemiologicol a id mycological characteristics of tinea pedis in 138 sewerage workers attending a sewerage plant in Seoul. Tinea pedis was found in 82, with a prevalence of 59.4%. The prevalence of tinea pedis increased with age and the period working at sewerage plant, however, there was no statistical significance. Also there was no difference in the prevalence of tinea pedis between the clerical workers and the field workers. Positive rate for KOH smear was 73.2%, and culture positive rates were 42.7%, producing 35 strains of dermatophytes. Twertyeight strains of Trichophyton Rubrum and 7 strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were isolated. Twentyseven yeast-form colonies were isolated, and Trichosporon beigelii was foungl in 19 samples. Most of the yeast forms were found mixed with dermatophytes and moulcis, However, 6 were isolated from direct smear positive cases and yieIded pure colonies of yeast. These included 4 cases of T. beigelii, 1 case of Candida parapsilosis, and 1 case of Candida hormicola. In view of the recent report of these fungi as pathogenic organism, these isolates, rspecially T. beigelii, were considered as a causative agent of tinea pedis in certain groups like sewerage workers.