Selected bacterial recovery in Trinidadian children with chronic tonsillar disease.

Unlabelled: Pharyngotonsillitis in children is widely treated with antibiotics.

Aim: To examine tonsil surface and core microflora following elective adenotonsillectomy in children.

Methods: Tonsils of 102 Trinidadian children were prospectively examined for surface and core bacteriological culture and identification between 2005-2006.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Trinidad and Tobago.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and the frequency of risk factors for the disease in women attending antenatal clinics in hospitals and local health centers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Methods: From November 2002-September 2003, 232 pregnant women at the antenatal clinics of two large hospitals were sampled during their first trimesters. From October 2003-February 2005, 218 pregnant women at five health care centers were followed through three trimesters, wherever possible, and blood samples collected.

Investigation for possible source(s) of contamination of ready-to-eat meat products with Listeria spp. and other pathogens in a meat processing plant in Trinidad.

In 2003, there was a recall of three processed (chicken franks, spice ham and turkey ham ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products by a large processing plant in Trinidad as a result of contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. The study was conducted to investigate the possible source(s) of Listeria contamination of recalled RTE meat products and to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp., Salmonella spp.

Prevalence of antimicrobial residues in table eggs in Trinidad.

The prevalence of antimicrobial residues in pooled table eggs from layer farms, shopping malls, and supermarkets in Trinidad was determined. A total of 23 layer farms and 14 shopping malls were sampled twice, 1 month apart, whereas 102 supermarkets were each sampled once. For each farm, 25 eggs were randomly collected and pooled to constitute a composite sample, whereas six eggs from each farm source available at sale outlets were randomly sampled from malls and supermarkets to constitute a composite sample.