Evolution of an international external quality assurance model to support laboratory investigation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, developed for the SIREVA project in Latin America, from 1993 to 2005.

In 1993 the Pan American Health Organization initiated a laboratory-based surveillance system, called the SIREVA project, to learn about Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive disease in Latin American children. In 1994, National Laboratories in six countries were trained to perform serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility testing using broth microdilution to determine the MIC for specified antibiotics. An international External Quality Assurance (EQA) program was developed to monitor and support ongoing laboratory performance.

[Review and guidelines for treatment of diarrhea caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus].

In Chile Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been detected in 3 gastroenteritis outbreaks since 1998. The most recent outbreak occurred during the summer of 2005, affecting over 10,000 people of whom one died. Affected individuals presented with one or more of the following symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and/or fever.

Analysis of molecular epidemiology of Chilean Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and bacteriophage typing.

Human Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis infections emerged in Chile in 1994. S. enterica serotype Enteritidis phage type 1 isolates predominated in the north, and phage type 4 isolates predominated in the central and southern regions.

Population-based surveillance for hospitalized and ambulatory pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease in Santiago, Chile.

Background: Nine- and 11-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines under development may control pediatric pneumococcal disease in nonindustrialized countries. Because these vaccines are expensive, population-based surveillance of pneumococcal disease in children <36 months of age was undertaken in Santiago, Chile to provide health authorities with reliable data on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease and causative serotypes, including those in outpatients with high fever.

Methods: Automated blood culture machines were introduced into 9 hospitals that admit 85% of all hospitalized children in Santiago.