Workplace burnout and health issues among Colombian correctional officers.

INTRODUCTION: Correctional employees typically work under adverse conditions that may enhance the occurrence of different negative psychological states. Burnout constitutes a high-risk phenomenon that may affect people's physical/mental health and welfare, especially in vulnerable occupational groups. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the burnout profile of correctional officers, and to associate their burnout profile with health issues and lifestyle factors. METHODS: The full sample was composed of 219 Colombian correctional officers with a mean age of 30.18 years. A questionnaire composed of three sections was employed: demographic data, burnout, and health information. RESULTS: A high proportion of participants reported burnout indicators, also significantly correlated to their health indicators and lifestyle factors. Cluster analyses were used in order to characterize the burnout/age (model A) and burnout/age/psychological disturbance (model B) profiles of correctional officers. Furthermore, significant differences were found when comparing frequencies of alcohol consumption and physical exercise (lifestyle indicators) and perceived social support of officers depending on their profile. CONCLUSIONS: the discussion focused on the negative impact of burnout on health, and on the importance of strengthening occupational programs aimed at reducing the impact of hazardous working conditions that contribute to the development of burnout, and to the arise different mid and long-term health complains among correctional workers.

Prevalencia de Streptococcus agalactiae en gestantes con factores de riesgo y sus recién nacidos. Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, 2002 / Streptococcus agalactiae prevalence in pregnant women with risk factors and their products, Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, 2002

Objetivo: determinar la pevalencia de colonización por Streptococcus agalactiae (SGB) en gestantes con factores de riesgo y sus hijos en el Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl. Diseño: estudio descriptivo prospectivo. Materiales y métodos: se estudiaron 81 gestantes con factores de riesgo, entre julio de 2000 y abril de 2002. se tomaron muestras de introito vaginal y región anal para cultivo de SGB. Se incluyeron 40 neonatos, de los cuales se hicieron cultivos de orofaringe, conducto auditivo externo y región anal. Resultados: se encontró una prevalencia de colonización materna por SGB de 8,6 por ciento (siete pacientes). De los recién nacidos estudiados, uno presentó colonización y otro enfermedad neonatal temprana por SGB. Se encontró asociación significativa entre la presencia de corioamnionitis, fiebre intraparto e infección urinaria por SGB y la colonización materna por este microorganismo. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de colonización por SGB encontrada en este estudio está acorde con lo reportado en la literatura mundial y muestra un aumento con respecto a años anteriores. Al haber seleccionado pacientes con factores de riesgo se pudo demostrar enfermedad invasiva en el recién nacido