Abstract. A study of the etiologies of diarrhea in adults in relation to their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus and number of CD4ϩ cells was carried out in the Central African Republic. In cases and controls, multiparasitism was observed. Salmonella spp. were identified mainly during acute diarrhea, with 50% of the S. enteritidis isolated during the study being responsible for septicemia and/or urinary tract infection in immunodeficient patients. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC) were the most frequently identified agent in HIVϩ patients with persistent diarrhea; 42.8% of the patients with EAggEC as sole pathogens had bloody diarrhea, and these strains were negative for the presence of a virulence plasmid. Coccidia were found in those with acute and persistent diarrhea. Blood was observed in 53.3% of infections involving coccidia as the sole pathogen. Microsporidium spp. and Blastocystis hominis were found only in HIVϩ patients with persistent diarrhea. Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Entamoeba histolytica were found in HIVϩ and HIVϪ dysenteric patients; bacteria resembling spirochetes that could not be cultivated were identified only in HIVϩ cases with dysentery. Shiga-like toxin-producing E. coli O157:HϪ was isolated from two cases with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Fungi were identified as the sole pathogen in 6.4% of the HIVϩ patients with persistent diarrhea. Most of enteropathogenic bacteria identified were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, remained susceptible to ampicillin plus clavulanic acid, and were susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin.

This survey of over 2,000 call center employees highlighted the high frequency of psychological distress in this population and the health impact of working conditions.

This study investigated the relation between working conditions, in terms of physical and psychological demand, and upper-limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders (ULNMD) in female staff working in direct contact with the elderly in nursing homes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 105 nursing homes in France. Data on nursing-home working conditions were collected by questionnaire from occupational physicians and by self-administered questionnaire from staff. Psychosocial demand at work was assessed on Siegrist’s questionnaire and ULNMD on the Nordic questionnaire. 2,328 employees were included: 628 housekeepers, 1,372 nursing assistants and 328 nurses. During the previous 12 months, 50% of the subjects (1,160) had presented with a musculoskeletal complaint concerning the neck, 38% (881) the shoulders, 10% (246) the elbows and 22% (520) the wrists. 9% (219) reported effort/reward imbalance on the 2004 Siegrist questionnaire and 42% were in a situation of over-commitment. ULNMD complaints were associated not only with physical occupational factors but also with psychosocial factors (effort/reward imbalance and over-commitment), both before and after adjustment on individual and occupational factors. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal role of occupational, including, organizational, psychosocial factors in ULNMD outcomes. Preventive approaches should take account of both physical and psychosocial occupational factors.

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This study confirmed the high rate of psychosocial constraints for call-handlers and identified work situations at risk.

ObjectivesThe present study sought to quantify the impaired mental well-being and psychosocial stress experienced by nursing home staff and to determine the relationship between impaired mental well-being assessed on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and exposure to psychosocial stress assessed on Siegrist's effort/reward and overcommitment model.MethodsA transverse study was conducted in France on 2471 female employees in 105 nursing homes for the elderly. Personal and occupational data were collected by questionnaire for 668 housekeepers, 1454 nursing assistants and 349 nurses.Results36.8% of participants (n=896) showed impaired mental well-being, 42.7% (n=1039) overcommitment and 9% (n=224) effort/reward imbalance. Overcommitment (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.27; 95% CI (1.21 to 1.34)) and effort–reward imbalance (PR=1.19; 95% CI (1.12 to 1.27)) were significantly associated with presence of impaired mental well-being after adjustment for personal factors (age and private life events). Taking effort and reward levels into account, the frequency of impaired mental well-being was highest in case of exposure to great extrinsic effort and low rewards of any type: esteem, PR=3.53, 95% CI (3.06 to 4.08); earnings, PR=3.48, 95% CI (2.99 to 4.06); or job security, PR=3.30, 95% CI (2.88 to 3.78). Participants in situations of overcommitment and of effort/reward imbalance were at the highest risk of impaired mental well-being: PR=3.86, 95% CI (3.42 to 4.35).ConclusionsSeveral changes in nursing home organisation can be suggested to reduce staff exposure to factors of psychosocial stress. Qualitative studies of the relation between impaired mental well-being and psychosocial stress in nursing home staff could guide prevention of impaired mental well-being at work.

attend job training courses, which should cover knowledge of the specific care needs of elderly patients and of the authority/responsibility required to do their job. (J Occup Health 2015; 57: 285-296) Key words: Health-care staff in nursing homes, Subjective hardship, Work-related stress, Working conditionsThe increase in the number of elderly persons with multiple chronic conditions including neuropsychiatric disorders and high levels of dependence entails increased demand for professional care workers in long-term residential care settings, such as nursing homes, in many countries 1−3) . In France, medical retirement or nursing homes are designated "establishments for the accommodation of dependent elderly persons" (Etablissements d'Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes: EHPAD). They provide collective accommodation and overall management for the elderly, including lodging, health care and dependence-related aid. Management is founded on a qualified multidisciplinary team notably comprising nurses, nursing assistants and housekeepers, who are under the supervision of physicians. Nurses usually ensure technical care and coordinate the work of the nursing assistants. As well as catering and accompaniment, nursing assistants are in charge of hygiene, comfort and preventive and curative care and are under the supervision of a nurse. Housekeepers carry out cleaning tasks, catering tasks and sometimes care tasks such as helping with meals.Like other health-care workers, these workers are exposed to a variety of occupational risks 4) . Working with the elderly, however, may give rise to specific form of stress, such as having to deal with Abstract: Risk factors for work-related stress and subjective hardship in health-care staff in nursing homes for the elderly: A cross-sectional study: Carole PÉLISSIER, et al. Université Lyon 1, UMRESTTE (Joint unit IFSTTAR/UCLB), France-Objectives:This study aimed to explore potential risk factors for work-related stress by, detailing working conditions and subjective hardship according to occupational category in health-care staff working with elderly patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in 105 nursing homes for the elderly in France. Data on nursing home working conditions were collected by occupational physicians. The study population was limited to those in direct contact with the elderly, who were divided into 3 occupational groups defined by qualifications and tasks: housekeepers (HKs), nursing assistants (NAs) and nurses (Ns). Employees answered a questionnaire on their perceived working conditions and vocational training courses. Psychosocial stress was assessed with the Siegrist questionnaire. Results: The subjects included 706 HKs, 1,565 NAs and 378 Ns, and the findings showed confusion of tasks and responsibilities in the study population. Verbal abuse by residents was reported by 60.9% of HKs (versus 76.2% of NAs and 76.7% of Ns, p<0.001). Physical attack by residents was more frequently reported by NAs (59.1%) than Ns (52....

In order to evaluate the frequency of neurological and psychiatric disorders in central African patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 93 inpatients at the National Hospital Centre of Bangui were selected according to the World Health Organization (Bangui) clinical definition of AIDS and were confirmed to be serologically positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 (92/93) or HIV 2 (1/93) by Western blot. Neurological (11/15) and psychiatric (4/15) abnormalities were clinically detected in 16% (15/93) of African patients with AIDS. In this series, the prevalence of neuro-psychiatric disorders appeared to be lower than in Europe and North America.