introduction: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic infection caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.PCM is considered one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. Methods: This is a clinical, epidemiological, retrospective, quantitative study of PCM cases in patients attending the National Health Service in the State of Rondônia in 1997-2012. The examined variables included sex, age group, year of diagnosis, education level, profession, place of residence, diagnostic test, prior treatment, medication used, comorbidities and case progress. Results: During the study period, 2,163 PCM cases were registered in Rondônia, and the mean annual incidence was 9.4/100,000 people. The municipalities with the highest rates were located in the southeastern region of Rondônia, and the towns of Pimenteiras do Oeste and Espigão do Oeste had the highest rates in the state, which were 39.1/100,000 and 37.4/100,000 people, respectively. Among all cases, 90.2% and 9.8% were observed in men and women, respectively, and most cases (58.2%) were observed in patients aged between 40 and 59 years. Itraconazole was used to treat 91.6% (1,771) of cases, followed by sulfamethoxazole in combination with trimethoprim (4.4% [85] of cases). One hundred thirty-one (6%) patients died. Conclusions: The State of Rondônia has a high incidence of PCM, and the municipalities in the southeastern region of the state were found to have the highest incidence rates of this disease. Our fi ndings suggest that Rondônia is the state in the northern region with the highest mortality rate for PCM.

Objetivo: descrever a incidência da hanseníase e as características dos casos notificados no estado de Rondônia, Brasil. Métodos: foi realizado estudo descritivo com dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) referentes ao período de 2001 a 2012; foi calculada a incidência por 100 mil habitantes e a distribuição percentual dos casos segundo variáveis de interesse. Resultados: no período de 2001 a 2012, foram notificados 15.648 casos de hanseníase, com média de 1.304 casos ao ano; a maior incidência foi observada no ano de 2003 (106,5/100 mil habitantes); a maior parte dos casos ocorreu entre homens (57,1%); a forma clínica predominante foi a dimorfa (42,2%); 46,6% dos casos eram paucibacilares e 53,4% multibacilares; e 6,6% dos indivíduos notificados apresentavam grau II de incapacidade física. Conclusão: a ocorrência de hanseníase em Rondônia ainda é elevada, sendo o estado considerado hiperendêmico.

RESUMOAs formigas são consideradas insetos vetores de várias espécies de patógenos e apresentam grande adaptabilidade a diversos tipos de ambientes. Por essa razão podem oferecer risco a pacientes imunodeprimidos, em ambiente hospitalar. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o perfil das bactérias Gram positivas veiculadas por formicídeos em ambiente hospitalar. Os insetos foram coletados na sala de emergência, no setor de pneumologia e no de gastroenterologia em um hospital público de Porto Velho, Estado de Rondônia, Brasil, no período de março a junho de 2012. As bactérias isoladas foram caracterizadas quanto à coloração de Gram, aos testes para identificação de bactérias do gênero Staphylococcus, Streptococcus e Micrococcus e quanto ao perfil de suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos. Entre as 130 formigas capturadas, 62% das cepas extraídas das formigas foram identificadas como pertencentes ao gênero Staphylococcus, 25% Streptococcus e 13% Micrococcus. Em relação à resistência aos antibióticos, 83% das cepas foram resistentes à oxacilina e 50% à vancomicina. Conclui-se que as formigas apresentaram grande potencial como veiculadoras mecânicas de bactérias, sugerindo o risco de infecção nosocomial e a permanência de cepas com alta resistência no ambiente hospitalar. 33 INTRODUÇÃOO processo de urbanização promoveu o aumento de doenças causadas e/ou transmitidas por artrópodes, entre esses, as formigas, um grupo que obteve melhor adaptação ao ambiente urbano, devido à grande disponibilidade de abrigo e alimento para si, o que facilita seu estabelecimento no ambiente e sua proliferação 1 . É importante ressaltar que, atualmente, cerca de 12.500 espécies de formigas já foram descritas, mas estima-se a existência de cerca de 21 mil espécies, e, dessas, menos de 20 espécies podem ser classificadas como pragas urbanas no Brasil 2 .As formigas realizam simbiose com bactérias, sendo consideradas vetores mecânicos de várias espécies desses microrganismos 3,4 . Além disso, possuem uma grande capacidade de locomoção, chegando a percorrer 3 cm por segundo, e, por isso, podem transitar em vários locais, como UTI, leitos, cozinhas, salas cirúrgicas e outros ambientes hospitalares, muitas vezes sem serem notadas. Desta forma, representam um fator de risco à saúde pública, uma vez que aumentam o risco de infecções hospitalares 5 .Sua presença nesse tipo de local pode ocorrer devido à estrutura arquitetônica dos hospitais, a sua localização próxima a residências, às embalagens de alguns medicamentos que podem trazer ninhos de formigas e ao grande fluxo de pessoas e alimentos que servem como atrativo para elas 6 .Bacterias Gram-positivas vehiculadas por hormigas en ambiente hospitalario en la Ciudad de Porto Velho, Estado de Rondônia, BrasilGram-positive bacteria carried by ants in hospital environment in the City of Porto

Mosquito nets treated with long-lasting insecticide (LLINs), when used in compliance with guidelines of the World Health Organization, may be effective for malaria vector control. In 2012, approximately 150,000 LLINs were installed in nine municipalities in the state of Rondônia. However, no studies have assessed their impact on the reduction of malaria incidence. This study analyzed secondary data of malaria incidence, in order to assess the impact of LLINs on the annual parasite incidence (API). The results showed no statistically significant differences in API one year after LLIN installation when compared to municipalities without LLINs. The adoption of measures for malaria vector control should be associated with epidemiological studies and evaluations of their use and efficiency, with the aim of offering convincing advantages that justify their implementation and limit malaria infection in the Amazon Region.

infection control in the postoperative period is necessary, using antibiotics correctly and consciously, avoiding resistance of bacterial agents.

Introduction:Mansonella ozzardi is a widely distributed fi laria worm in the Amazon region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of M. ozzardi infection in riverine communities of Lábrea municipality, Amazonas State, Brazil. Methods: A diagnostic blood fi ltration method in a polycarbonate membrane was used. Results: M. ozzardi was found in 50.3% of the sample, with the highest prevalence in farmers/fi shermen (69.4%; χ 2 = -19.14, p<0.001). The prevalence was higher in longerterm residents (≥11 years; 60.2%). Conclusions: M. ozzardi infection rates are high near the Purus River, much greater than those previously reported based on diagnosis using thick blood smears.Keywords: Mansonelliasis. Mansonella ozzardi. Brazilian Amazon.Mansonella ozzardi is a widely distributed fi laria worm that parasitizes humans in Amazonas State, Brazil, with high prevalences detected in residents of some regions of the Solimões, Negro, and Purus Rivers (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) . Simuliidae (blackfl ies) are the only vector of M. ozzardi in Brazil (6) (7) .An endemic region for M. ozzardi in Brazil is in the municipality of Lábrea, in the Purus River region, Amazonas, where it has been detected since the fi rst survey in the 1950s (1) . Subsequent studies conducted in the 1970s and 1980s confi rmed the wide distribution of M. ozzardi in this region (8) (9) . More recently, the prevalence of the infection had reportedly increased in riverine communities located near the Purus and Ituxi Rivers (2) (3) (4) .In the Purus River region, only Adami et al. (10) utilized the concentration method by Knott to diagnose mansonelliasis. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of M. ozzardi infection in riverine communities of the Lábrea municipality using a diagnostic blood fi ltration method in a polycarbonate membrane, which is more sensitive than thick blood smears (11) .This study was conducted in the riverside communities of the Purus River (Cassianã, Bacural, Jucuri, Buraco, Santa Rosa, Jurucuá and Samaúma), located approximately 200km from the municipality of Lábrea communities (S: 07º15' 34" and W: 64º47'59"), State of Amazonas, Brazil (Figure 1). The sample consisted of volunteer men, women, and children aged 5-60 years selected using convenience sampling. Data and blood samples were collected after signing the free and informed consent form by the individual or the legal guardian. Of the estimated 350 inhabitants in the included communities, 171 (48.6%) inhabitants were present at the time of the study and agreed to participate.To estimate the prevalence of Mansonella ozzardi, blood was filtrated in a polycarbonate membrane (12) . First, 1mL venous blood was collected from each individual, diluted in 10mL 0.9% saline, and fi ltered in a polycarbonate membrane (Nucleopore Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA) with a 3µm pore diameter. Then, the membranes were removed from the fi lters and mounted on microscope slides, fi xed in methanol, stained with a Panoptic kit ® , and examined under an optical micros...

Background The Amazon is one of the regions who have the highest rates of infection by the hepatitis B virus in the world. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological data and spatial distribution of hepatitis B cases reported between 2002 and 2012 in the Brazilian State of Rondônia. Methods Social and clinical data of these individuals were studied through the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), including the following variables: gender, age group, vaccination, contact with a known patient with HBV, exposure to risk factors, source of infection, and clinical status. Results There were 7,132 cases reported in Rondônia, with an average incidence rate of 42/100,000 inhabitants per year. The municipalities with the highest incidence rates were Monte Negro (187.6/100,000 inhabitants) and Ariquemes (157.2/100,000 inhabitants). The 20-39 year-old age group had the highest number of cases (n = 3,834), and 69.9% of patients were likely infected via sexual contact. Regarding the clinical disease status, most of the patients (80.7%) were in the chronic phase. Conclusions There was a recent 402% increase in the diagnosis of hepatitis B, which is likely owing to the improvements in the public diagnostic system. This highlights the need for public policies to prevent and control the disease.

Introduction: Malaria is one of the major parasitic diseases in the State of Rondônia, located in the western Brazilian Amazon. The basic treatment scheme for this disease is chloroquine and primaquine. This study evaluated the epidemiological profile of malaria in Rondônia between 2008 and 2012. Methodology: The epidemiological data were provided by the Health Surveillance Agency from the State of Rondônia, and socioeconomic indicators were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System, and from the National Institute for Space Research. The analyzed variables included year of diagnosis, gender, age group, main activity performed in the 15 days previous to the diagnosis, parasite species, level of parasitemia, number of relapse/recrudescence cases, and socioeconomic and environmental data for Rondônia. Results: A total of 238,626 cases of malaria were recorded in Rondônia during the study period. Of this total, 65.6% were men and the most prevalent age group was 20-39 years. Plasmodium vivax was the most common parasite (89.8%), followed by Plasmodium falciparum (9.4%). An average of 30.9% of the individuals who were tested presented with relapse/recrudescence malaria. The API value was highest in 2008 and lowest in 2012, corresponding to 42.3 cases and 19.2 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. Conclusions: A 58% reduction in the number of malaria cases and a 36.2% reduction in the number of relapse/recrudescence malaria cases were observed, due to increases in the economy, improvements in the health system, and reduction of deforestation in this region.