Urinary Tract Infections in College and Non-College Women from Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare college and non-college women in terms of the frequency of, etiology of, and risk factors associated with urinary tract infections. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Cartagena, Colombia, with 258 female college students and 256 female non-college students from 15 to 34 years old. The participants were interviewed and completed a questionnaire assessing the risk factors associated with urinary tract infections. Urine samples were examined by urinalysis and to look for signs of urinary tract infection, when found, were confirmed by culture. Isolated bacteria were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer test. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Urinary tract infections were found in 7.8% of the participating college women and 9.4% of the participating non-college women. E. coli was the most frequent uropathogen found in the members of the 2 groups. The majority of the isolated bacteria were highly resistant to ß-lactams. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that in the college women, the predictor variables of having a urinary tract infection were the presence of nitrites, leucocytes, and urinary urgency. In the case of the non-college women, the predictor variables were the presence of nitrites and cystitis in the last 2 years. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of urinary tract infection were similar in both groups. These individuals might have been taking non-prescribed antibiotics or failing to comply with a prescribed treatment or bacteria are of hospital origin.

Intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco, Bolívar and associated risk factors / Parásitos intestinales en niños y suelo de Turbaco, Bolívar y factores de riesgo asociados

Objective To determine the frequency of intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco- Bolívar and associated risks factors. Methods Analytical study in which 390 children between 2 and 12 years old from 10 neighborhoods of Turbaco were included, whose legal representatives gave informed consent. Three serial samples of feces and 10 soil samples were processed. Risk factors were determined through an interview. Physicochemical and structural characteristics of soils were also evaluated. Results Parasites were found in 30.5 % of children. 162 parasites were observed; the most frequent protozoan was Endolimax nana (30.3 %) and in terms of helminthes, the most frequent was Ascaris lumbricoides (4.9 %). No statistical association between age or sex and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) or between risk factors and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) was found. Low frequencies of intestinal parasites were encountered in soil samples, being more common Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp., and Ascaris lumbricoides. Neighborhoods of Turbaco had sandy dry soil with low content of ions, low conductivity and low organic matter. Conclusion This study showed a low frequency of intestinal parasites in feces and soils. Despite this, pathogenic parasites were found which can affect the health of the population. Besides this, a high percentage of intestinal parasites that are transmitted through feces were detected indicating fecal contamination and low level of hygiene.(AU)

Objetivo Determinar la frecuencia de parásitos intestinales en niños y suelos de Turbaco -Bolívar y su asociación con factores de riesgo. Métodos Estudio analítico realizado en Turbaco-Bolívar. Fueron Incluidos 390 niños entre 2 y 12 años de 10 barrios, cuyos representantes legales dieron un consentimiento informado. Fueron procesadas 3 muestras seriadas de heces fecales y 10 muestras de suelos. Los factores de riesgo fueron evaluados a través de una entrevista. Además se determinaron las características fisicoquímicas y estructurales de los suelos. Resultados Se encontraron parásitos en 30,5 % de los niños. Se observaron 162 parásitos, siendo Endolimax nana (30,3 %) el protozoo más frecuente y Ascaris lumbricoides (4,9 %) el helminto más frecuente. No se encontró asociación estadística entre la edad, el sexo y los factores de riesgo con la presencia de parásitos intestinales (p>0,05). Se encontró una baja frecuencia de parásitos en las muestras de suelo, siendo más comunes Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp. y Ascaris lumbricoides. Los barrios de Turbaco tuvieron suelo arenoso, seco con bajo contenido de iones, baja conductividad y poca materia orgánica. Conclusión Este estudio determinó una baja frecuencia de parásitos intestinales en heces y suelos. Sin embargo, se encontraron parásitos patógenos que pueden afectar la salud de la población. Se detectó un alto porcentaje de parásitos que son transmitidos a través de las heces indicando contaminación fecal y bajo nivel de higiene.(AU)

Intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco, Colombia and associated risk factors / Parásitos intestinales en niños y suelo de Turbaco, Colombia y factores de riesgo asociados

Objective To determine the frequency of intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco- Colombia and associated risks factors. Methods Analytical study in which 390 children between 2 and 12 years old from 10 neighborhoods of Turbaco were included, whose legal representatives gave informed consent. Three serial samples of feces and 10 soil samples were processed. Risk factors were determined through an interview. Physicochemical and structural characteristics of soils were also evaluated. Results Parasites were found in 30.5 % of children. 162 parasites were observed; the most frequent protozoan was Endolimax nana (30.3 %) and in terms of helminthes, the most frequent was Ascaris lumbricoides (4.9 %). No statistical association between age or sex and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) or between risk factors and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) was found. Low frequencies of intestinal parasites were encountered in soil samples, being more common Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp., and Ascaris lumbricoides. Neighborhoods of Turbaco had sandy dry soil with low content of ions, low conductivity and low organic matter. Conclusion This study showed a low frequency of intestinal parasites in feces and soils. Despite this, pathogenic parasites were found which can affect the health of the population. Besides this, a high percentage of intestinal parasites that are transmitted through feces were detected indicating fecal contamination and low level of hygiene.(AU)

Objetivo Determinar la frecuencia de parásitos intestinales en niños y suelos de Turbaco -Colombia y su asociación con factores de riesgo. Métodos Estudio analítico realizado en Turbaco-Colombia. Fueron Incluidos 390 niños entre 2 y 12 años de 10 barrios, cuyos representantes legales dieron un consentimiento informado. Fueron procesadas 3 muestras seriadas de heces fecales y 10 muestras de suelos. Los factores de riesgo fueron evaluados a través de una entrevista. Además se determinaron las características fisicoquímicas y estructurales de los suelos. Resultados Se encontraron parásitos en 30,5 % de los niños. Se observaron 162 parásitos, siendo Endolimax nana (30,3 %) el protozoo más frecuente y Ascaris lumbricoides (4,9 %) el helminto más frecuente. No se encontró asociación estadística entre la edad, el sexo y los factores de riesgo con la presencia de parásitos intestinales (p>0,05). Se encontró una baja frecuencia de parásitos en las muestras de suelo, siendo más comunes Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp. y Ascaris lumbricoides. Los barrios de Turbaco tuvieron suelo arenoso, seco con bajo contenido de iones, baja conductividad y poca materia orgánica. Conclusión Este estudio determinó una baja frecuencia de parásitos intestinales en heces y suelos. Sin embargo, se encontraron parásitos patógenos que pueden afectar la salud de la población. Se detectó un alto porcentaje de parásitos que son transmitidos a través de las heces indicando contaminación fecal y bajo nivel de higiene.(AU)

Intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco, Colombia and associated risk factors.

Objective To determine the frequency of intestinal parasites in children and soil from Turbaco- Colombia and associated risks factors. Methods Analytical study in which 390 children between 2 and 12 years old from 10 neighborhoods of Turbaco were included, whose legal representatives gave informed consent. Three serial samples of feces and 10 soil samples were processed. Risk factors were determined through an interview. Physicochemical and structural characteristics of soils were also evaluated. Results Parasites were found in 30.5 % of children. 162 parasites were observed; the most frequent protozoan was Endolimax nana (30.3 %) and in terms of helminthes, the most frequent was Ascaris lumbricoides (4.9 %). No statistical association between age or sex and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) or between risk factors and intestinal parasites (p>0.05) was found. Low frequencies of intestinal parasites were encountered in soil samples, being more common Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp., and Ascaris lumbricoides. Neighborhoods of Turbaco had sandy dry soil with low content of ions, low conductivity and low organic matter. Conclusion This study showed a low frequency of intestinal parasites in feces and soils. Despite this, pathogenic parasites were found which can affect the health of the population. Besides this, a high percentage of intestinal parasites that are transmitted through feces were detected indicating fecal contamination and low level of hygiene.

Portación nasal de Staphylococcus aureus en estudiantes de Bacteriología / Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in a students' community

Objetivo: Identificar portadores nasales de Staphylococcus aureus en estudiantes de un programa de Bacteriología. Materiales y métodos: La muestra estuvo conformada por 121 estudiantes, seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio estratificado. Todas las cepas de S. aureus fueron identificadas por métodos convencionales. La sensibilidad a antibióticos fue determinada por el método de Kirby-Bauer. Se aplicó una encuesta para identificar condiciones de riesgo asociados a la portación nasal. Resultados: De la población estudiada, el 14,88 % (18/121) fue portador de la bacteria. Se obtuvieron 19 aislamientos de S. aureus; ninguno de estos presentó perfil de resistencia a la meticilina. Además, se identificó una cepa de S. aureus con test D positivo. El principal factor de riesgo que se presentó fue convivencia con personas que laboran en instituciones hospitalarias (33,33 %; 6/18). Conclusiones: Se encontró una baja frecuencia de portación nasal de S. aureus y de factores de riesgo asociados.

Objective: To identify nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in a bacteriology students' community. Materials and Methods: The sample was composed of 121 students selected via stratified random sampling. All S. aureus strains were identified using conventional methods. Antibiotic sensivity was determined by the Kirby-Bauer method. A survey was applied in order to identify risk factors associated. Results: In the population studied, 14.88% (18/121) were carriers of bacteria. 19 S. aureus isolates were obtained, no methicillin-resistant strains were detected. We found one D-test positive S. aureus strain. The principal risk factor found was contact with healthcare workers (33.33%; 6/18). Conclusions: We found a low frequency of S. aureus nasal carriage and risk factors associated.