Title
Outbreak of gastroenteritis at a peruvian naval base
Date Issued
01 January 2006
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Jones F.R.
Ortiz M.
Soriano I.
Utz G.
Saldarriaga E.
Cumpa R.
Collantes V.
Leandro Y.
Bernal M.M.
Ucanan L.E.
Colina O.
Batsei T.
American Embassy
Publisher(s)
Association of Military Surgeons of the US
Abstract
In April of 2003, an outbreak of gastroenteritis was reported in a training command (Centro de Instrucción Técnica y Entrenamiento Naval (CITEN)) at a Peruvian naval base located near Lima, Peru. The Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, in collaboration with the National Peruvian Naval Hospital, conducted an investigation to determine the causative agent and potential source of the outbreak. Between April 3 and 5, 172 (16%) of 1,092 military trainees reported to the CITEN clinic with diarrhea. Of 74 trainees for whom bacterial cultures were performed, Shigella spp. were isolated from 5 (6.8%), Campylobacter spp. from 5 (6.8%), and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from 2 (2.7%). Pathogenic parasites were identified in 22 of 64 (34%) trainees for whom microscopic observation for ova and parasites was performed. Stool samples from asymptomatic controls could not be collected, thus we were unable to confirm that the enteropathogens isolated were the etiologic agent(s). Several food items and the hands of food handlers were contaminated with coliform bacteria and drinking water was not adequately chlorinated. Preventative measures have since reduced the number of diarrhea cases at the CITEN.
Start page
1095
End page
1099
Volume
171
Issue
11
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Gastroenterología, Hepatología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-33751117737
PubMed ID
Source
Military Medicine
ISSN of the container
00264075
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus