Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal protozoa infection in elderly residents at Long Term Residency Institutions in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

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.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Protozoan Infections among the Tea Estates Workers of Ilam District, Nepal

“…In Nepal, the practice of hand washing had a strong correlation with the prevalence of parasitic infection 29 . The association between the frequency of hand washing and the positivity of protozoan infection in the health professionals was observed in other study 30 . It is expected that higher frequency in hand washing decreases the likelihood of the presence of pathogens.…”

“…It is expected that higher frequency in hand washing decreases the likelihood of the presence of pathogens. However, factors such as water quality and the procedure used in hand washing can be critical in determining the presence of intestinal protozoan cysts and thus, leading to the contamination of these professionals 30 .…”

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in the elderly enrolled in the Family Health Strategy in Porto Alegre, Brazil

“…11 However, more recent studies have identified a lower prevalence in the institutionalized elderly: 12.9% in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 9 and 9.5% in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. 3 These differences in prevalence may occur due to the socioeconomic and environmental differences between the studied populations. Diverse ecological conditions favor the spread of intestinal parasites, constituting a serious public health problem in some regions of Latin America and Brazil.…”

“…It is believed that intestinal parasite infections can be more severe in the elderly due to the aging of the immune system. [2][3][4] Three epidemiological factors are required for the occurrence of parasitic disease:…”

“…Previous studies have reported cases in certain areas where the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in elderly population ranges from 9.5% to 72.8%. 3,[7][8][9][10][11] To understand the reality and needs of each region, the Family Health Strategy (FHS) team, which is part of the Unified Health System in Brazil, implements health surveillance, promotion, prevention, and disease control activities. 12 The use of epidemiological tools and the collection of survey data by Community Health Workers (CHW) regarding the social and environmental factors that may affect human health enable closer proximity of health services to the population.…”