Prevalence and Species Distribution of Candida Clinical Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ecuador Tested from January 2019 to February 2020.

The incidence of candidemia in healthcare centers is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frequency varies significantly among regions, with some species being more prevalent than others in Latin America. In this study, 191 clinical Candida isolates were collected from a major hospital in Ecuador from January 2019 to February 2020 aiming to assess their prevalence and distribution. After data processing, 168 isolates characterized by the VITEK 2 system were subsequently identified by ITS sequencing. Results showed diverse Candida species distributions, with C. albicans and C. tropicalis being the most prevalent across different clinical sources. In hospitalized individuals, C. tropicalis (38%) and C. albicans (37%) were the most prevalent, followed by, C. parapsilosis (16%), C. glabrata (5%), and other non-Candida albicans (NCA) species (6%). Conversely, C. parapsilosis (48%), C. albicans (20%), and C. glabrata (14%), associated with candidemia, were the most common in blood and CSF. Additionally, uncommon NCA species such as C. haemulonii, C. kefyr, and C. pelliculosa were identified in Ecuador for the first time. Discrepancies in species identification were observed between the VITEK 2 system and ITS sequencing, coinciding at 85%. This highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and identification efforts in Ecuador's clinical and epidemiological settings.

Outbreak of blaOXA-72-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in South America.

Thirty-five Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were recovered from two medical centres in Guayaquil City, Ecuador, from November 2012 to October 2013. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF and confirmed by rpoB. PCR methods were employed for epidemiological analysis.Thirty-three A. baumannii isolates were resistant to all ß-lactams. The blaOXA-24/40-like gene was detected in 30 isolates. DNA sequencing identified the blaOXA-24/40-like amplicon as blaOXA-72. The 30 isolates harbouring blaOXA-72 strains showed the same PCR pattern. We report the first outbreak of blaOXA-72-producing A. baumannii in South America. This is the first study carried out in the Republic of Ecuador.

Estudio clínico-terapéutico para evaluar la eficacia del tratamiento con Albendazol, de las infecciones intestinales por Giardia lamblia, en escolares de 2 a 15 años / Clinical Therapeutic Study to evaluate the effect of albendazole treatment in intestinal infection caused by Giardia Lamblia in school students between the ages of 2-15 years

Realizamos tratamiento con albendazol, suspensión en ampollas bebibles, a 59 niños, menores de 15 años, 27 varones y 32 mujeres, con infección comprobada de G. Lamblia. Obtuvimos 94,9% de cura total (56 niños). No se registraron efectos colaterales y la ingesta del medicamento fue muy aceptada.El albendazol es una opción terapéutica eficaz y segura para tratamiento de G. lamblia, y la presentación en ampollas bebibles facilita la administración y es una modalidad muy agradable para los infantes.La infección intestinal por Giardia lamblia es mayor al 15% en la población infantil del Ecuador y es causa de ausentismo escolar, aumento de gastos médicos, de laboratorio y baja del rendimiento escolar.

We administered suspension of albendazole treatment in drinkable ampoules to 59 children, 15 years old or younger, 27 males and 32 females, who it was proven had infection caused by G. Lamblia. We found that 94.9% (56 children) of the patients were cured, there were not collateral effects and the ingestion of the medicament was very acceptable.Albendazole is an efficient and secure therapeutic option for treatment of G. lamblia, and the presentation of drinkable ampoules facilitate the administration and please the children.The intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia is present in more than 15% of children population of Ecuador and causes absenteeism from school, increase medical and laboratory expenses, and a decrease in the child’s performance in class.