Brote epidémico por Cyclospora cayetanensis en Medellín, Colombia / An outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Medellín, Colombia

Objetivo: Describir un brote epidémico de enfermedad gastrointestinal en un grupo de 56 pacientes de Medellín, Colombia. Metodología En abril de 2002 se presentó un número inusitado de casos de diarrea y a partir del hallazgo de Cyclospora cayetanensis en uno de los pacientes, se recolectaron 56 muestras de materia fecal de igual número de individuos. Se realizó una encuesta clínico-epidemiológica, coprológico directo, concentración con formol-éter y coloración de Zielh Neelsen modificada. Además, se estudiaron por directo y Zielh Neelsen muestras de algunos alimentos para la búsqueda del parásito. Resultados Del total de pacientes evaluados, 55,4 por ciento (31/56) fueron positivos para C. cayetanensis, de éstos, el 77,4 por ciento (24/31) fueron mujeres, y el 83,9 por ciento (26/31) pertenecía a la Universidad de Antioquia, de los cuales el 88,6 por ciento eran empleados no docentes. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre pacientes positivos y negativos para Cyclospora con respecto a las manifestaciones clínicas, excepto en la deshidratación que fue mayor en los pacientes con ciclosporidiasis. Sin embargo, se encontró una diferencia significativa con relación al consumo de ensaladas y jugos, la cual fue mayor entre los pacientes positivos que los negativos. Conclusión Se presentó un brote epidémico de C. cayetanensis en pacientes sintomáticos atendidos por el grupo GIEPI en abril de 2002.

Objective: Describing an outbreak of gastrointestinal disease in a group of 56 patients from Medellín, Colombia. Methods An unusual number of cases of diarrhoea appeared in April 2002 and 56 samples of stool from the same number of individuals were collected because a patient proved Cyclospora cayetanensis positive. A clinical-epidemiological survey, direct coprology, formol-ether concentration and modified Zielhs Neelsen staining were then carried out. Some food samples were also studied for parasites by direct and modified Zielh Neelsen staining. Results 55,4 percent (31/56) of the patients being evaluated proved positive for C. cayetanensis. 77,4 percent (24/31) were women and 83,9 percent (26/31) belonged to the University of Antioquia, 88,6 percent of whom were not teachers. There was no statistically significant difference between positive and negative patients for Cyclospora regarding clinical manifestations, except for dehydration which was greater in patients having cyclosporiasis. However, there was a significant difference regarding consuming salads and juice, this being greater amongst positive patients than negative ones. Conclusion An outbreak of C. cayetanensis appeared in symptomatic patients being taken care of by the GIEPI group during April 2002.

[An outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Medellín, Colombia]. / Brote epidémico por Cyclospora cayetanensis en Medellín, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Describing an outbreak of gastrointestinal disease in a group of 56 patients from Medellín, Colombia. METHODS: An unusual number of cases of diarrhoea appeared in April 2002 and 56 samples of stool from the same number of individuals were collected because a patient proved Cyclospora cayetanensis positive. A clinical-epidemiological survey, direct coprology, formol-ether concentration and modified Zielhs Neelsen staining were then carried out. Some food samples were also studied for parasites by direct and modified Zielh Neelsen staining. RESULTS: 55.4% (31/56) of the patients being evaluated proved positive for C. cayetanensis. 77.4% (24/31) were women and 83.9% (26/31) belonged to the University of Antioquia, 88.6% of whom were not teachers. There was no statistically significant difference between positive and negative patients for Cyclospora regarding clinical manifestations, except for dehydration which was greater in patients having cyclosporiasis. However, there was a significant difference regarding consuming salads and juice, this being greater amongst positive patients than negative ones. CONCLUSION: An outbreak of C. cayetanensis appeared in symptomatic patients being taken care of by the GIEPI group during April 2002.