Laboratory surveillance of Salmonella enterica from human clinical cases in Colombia 2005-2011.

Introduction: Salmonella is an enteropathogen acquired through contaminated food or water. In Colombia, Salmonella spp. is included in the national surveillance of Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases and typhoid fever initiated in 1997.

[Molecular characterization of Shigella sonnei isolates recovered by the Laboratory Surveillance Program for Acute Diarrheal Disease in Colombia].

Introduction: In Colombia, Shigella sonnei is one of the most frequently isolated serotypes (53.4%) in human clinical samples associated with diarrheal acute disease. The identification of DNA restriction patterns by pulsed field gel electrophoresis is the basis for the molecular surveillance of S.

[Characterization of isolates of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa from seven Colombian provinces].

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes multiple infections in hospitalized patients. This microorganism has developed resistance to several antimicrobial agents, including carbapenems, which are considered to be the last therapeutic option against these infections. Carbapenem resistance of P.

[Epidemiological surveillance of human leptospirosis in Colombia, 2007-2011].

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonosis of worldwide distribution, caused by a spirochete of the genus Leptospira . In Colombia, the disease represents a major public health issue, and there has been an increased number of cases in humans and animals.

Objective: To characterize epidemiologically cases of leptospirosis reported to the National Public Health Surveillance in Colombia, and to make an approach to determine the serogroups circulating in the country.

[Listeria monocytogenes in food handlers: a new approach to address the dangers in food industry].

Introduction: Foodborne diseases are a high-impact health problem. Listeria monocytogenes is frequently associated with contaminated meat and dairy foods. Monitoring their presence at various stages during production is important to control the spread of this microorganism.

[A nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enteritidis outbreak in Popayán, Cauca, 2011].

Introduction: Salmonella Enteritidis is recognized worldwide as one of the main agents of human gastrointestinal infection. Several reports indicate the presence of isolates with decreased sensitivity to ciprofloxacin that can lead to a delayed response or the development of resistance during treatment.

Objective: To describe and characterize isolates of Salmonella Enteritidis associated to an outbreak of food-borne diseases in Popayán, Cauca.

Changes in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in invasive disease and nasopharyngeal carriage after the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: In Bogotá, the Heptavalent Conjugate Vaccine (PCV7) was introduced into childhood immunization schedule since 2009. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in serotype distribution and penicillin susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates recovered from nasopharyngeal samples and invasive disease among children living in Bogotá, before and after PCV7 introduction.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from healthy children aged between 12 and 18 months of age before (years 2005-2006) and after (2011) PCV7 introduction.

[Characterization by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Salmonella typhimurium isolates recovered in the acute diarrheal disease surveillance program in Colombia, 1997-2004].

Introduction: In Colombia Salmonella Typhimurium is the second most frequently isolated Salmonella serotype (after S. Enteritidis) from human clinical samples. This serotype represents 28.

[Acute diarrhea outbreak caused by Shigella flexneri at a school in Madrid, Cundinamarca: phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates].

Shigellosis is an acute diarrhoeal disease that is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In 1997, the Colombian Instituto Nacional de Salud Microbiology Group organized a network surveillance program with the country's Public Health Laboratories (PHLs) to monitor the principal etiological agents responsible for acute diarrhoeal disease. In May, 2001, the PHL of the state of Cundinamarca reported a food poisoning outbreak involving an elementary school community.

[Species of the Bacillus strain: macroscopic and microscopic morphology].

Between October 2001 and January 2002, the Microbiology Group of the Instituto Nacional de Salud processed 705 envelopes under suspicion of harboring anthrax spores. We present photographs of cultures and slides prepared from them of Bacillus species to be used as reference material for the accurate macroscopic and microscopic identification of the agent found in samples.