SUMMARYThis study determined the prevalence of intestinal protozoa in Long Term Residency Institutions for the Elderly (ILPI) in elders, nurses and food handlers, identifying the risk factors associated with the infections. Stool samples taken from the elderly (n = 293), nurses (63) and food handlers (19) were studied. Questionnaires were used with questions related to sociodemographic variables, health, behavior and health characteristics. Stool samples were examined using the techniques of Faust and Ziehl Neelsen, and the prevalence of G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., E. histolytica/dispar in the elderly was 4.0%, 1.0% and 0.3% respectively. Nurses and food handlers showed 4.8% and 5.2% positivity only for G. duodenalis, respectively. The origin of the individuals and contact with domestic animals has been associated with infection by G. duodenalis in the elderly, and contact with domestic animals was considered a risk factor for infection. The last stool examinations were related to Cryptosporidium spp.. None of the variables were associated with E. histolytica/dispar. The frequency of hand washing was significantly associated with G. duodenalis among nurses. The frequency of positive samples of G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., E. histolytica/dispar showed that ILPIs environments are conducive to this occurring due to contact between the elderly, nurses and food handlers, which are often poorly trained in hygiene procedures and food handling.

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência de parasitas intestinais em diversos locais (cantina, dos sanitários, do bebedouro e do pátio) de uma instituição prisional de uma cidade do interior de Goiás. As amostras foram coletadas utilizando uma fita adesiva transparente (tipo Durex ou Scotch), essa fita foi aplicada à superfície de cada local pesquisado e, posteriormente, recolocada sobre uma lâmina para a microscopia, as lâminas foram lidas por dois examinadores, diretamente, em microscopia óptica comum, em aumentos de 100 a 400 vezes. Ao todo, foram coletadas 177 amostras, sendo nove (5,1%) positivas para Ascaris lumbricoides, uma (0,5%) apresentou ácaro e outra (0,5%) apresentou cisto de Endolimax nana. Todas as lâminas positivas com Ascaris lumbricoides referiam-se à cantina (fogão, freezer, balcão, panela, cesto de verduras e, faca) e as amostras de Endolimax nana e ácaro estavam presentes nos sanitários (vasos sanitários). A instituição prisional analisada representa um local de risco para as pessoas que a frequentam.Descritores: Parasitas; Prisões; Higiene; Manipulação de Alimentos, Parasitologia.