ABSTRACT Background: In the attempt to reactivate the economy after several months of the pandemic generated by COVID-19, several South American countries have been forced to attenuate the restriction measures created to prevent contagion, leaving all the responsibility to citizens to safeguard their lives. Faced with this situation, the objective of the work was to promote good prevention practices against COVID-19 in the general population to avoid the collapse of the public health system. Methods: An exploratory review on prevention measures against COVID-19 was carried out in the databases Elsevier, Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus, Scielo and, in general, in academic Google, to obtain gray information. Results: The role of seven individual protection and prevention measures and barriers to stop the advance of community infections by COVID-19 were described and analyzed. Studies showed that the use of preventive measures can play a critical role in containing the pandemic. However, they can also provide a false security of protection, predisposing to neglect the correct use and handling of all containment measures. Conclusions: Given the drastic rise in infections and deaths from COVID-19 in Latin America, it becomes necessary to continue with biosecurity campaigns so that citizens are clear that prevention is an integrated process and that the use of one measure does not replace another.

RESUMEN Fundamentos: En el intento de reactivar la economía tras varios meses de pandemia generada por COVID-19, varios países sudamericanos se han visto obligados a reducir las medidas de restricción creadas para evitar contagios, dejando toda la responsabilidad a la ciudadanía a salvaguardar sus vidas. Ante esta situación, el objetivo del trabajo fue promover buenas prácticas de prevención contra COVID-19 en la población general para evitar el colapso del sistema público de salud. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión exploratoria sobre medidas de prevención contra COVID-19 en las bases de datos Elsevier, Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus, Scielo y, en forma general, en Google académico para obtener información gris. Resultados: Se describieron y analizaron el rol de siete medidas y barreras de protección y prevención individual para detener el avance de los contagios comunitarios por COVID-19. Los estudios mostraron que el uso de medidas de prevención puede desempeñar un papel fundamental en la contención la pandemia. No obstante, también pueden brindan una falsa seguridad de protección, predisponiendo a dejar de lado el uso y manejo correcto de todas las medidas de contención. Conclusiones: Ante el ascenso drástico de los contagios y muerte por la COVID-19 en América Latina, se vuelve necesario continuar con las campañas de bioseguridad para que la ciudadanía tenga claro que la prevención es un proceso integrado y que el uso de una medida no reemplaza otra.

ABSTRACT Background: In the attempt to reactivate the economy after several months of the pandemic generated by COVID-19, several South American countries have been forced to attenuate the restriction measures created to prevent contagion, leaving all the responsibility to citizens to safeguard their lives. Faced with this situation, the objective of the work was to promote good prevention practices against COVID-19 in the general population to avoid the collapse of the public health system. Methods: An exploratory review on prevention measures against COVID-19 was carried out in the databases Elsevier, Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus, Scielo and, in general, in academic Google, to obtain gray information. Results: The role of seven individual protection and prevention measures and barriers to stop the advance of community infections by COVID-19 were described and analyzed. Studies showed that the use of preventive measures can play a critical role in containing the pandemic. However, they can also provide a false security of protection, predisposing to neglect the correct use and handling of all containment measures. Conclusions: Given the drastic rise in infections and deaths from COVID-19 in Latin America, it becomes necessary to continue with biosecurity campaigns so that citizens are clear that prevention is an integrated process and that the use of one measure does not replace another.

RESUMEN Fundamentos: En el intento de reactivar la economía tras varios meses de pandemia generada por COVID-19, varios países sudamericanos se han visto obligados a reducir las medidas de restricción creadas para evitar contagios, dejando toda la responsabilidad a la ciudadanía a salvaguardar sus vidas. Ante esta situación, el objetivo del trabajo fue promover buenas prácticas de prevención contra COVID-19 en la población general para evitar el colapso del sistema público de salud. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión exploratoria sobre medidas de prevención contra COVID-19 en las bases de datos Elsevier, Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus, Scielo y, en forma general, en Google académico para obtener información gris. Resultados: Se describieron y analizaron el rol de siete medidas y barreras de protección y prevención individual para detener el avance de los contagios comunitarios por COVID-19. Los estudios mostraron que el uso de medidas de prevención puede desempeñar un papel fundamental en la contención la pandemia. No obstante, también pueden brindan una falsa seguridad de protección, predisponiendo a dejar de lado el uso y manejo correcto de todas las medidas de contención. Conclusiones: Ante el ascenso drástico de los contagios y muerte por la COVID-19 en América Latina, se vuelve necesario continuar con las campañas de bioseguridad para que la ciudadanía tenga claro que la prevención es un proceso integrado y que el uso de una medida no reemplaza otra.

Foram estudadas, para a pesquisa de espécies de Arcobacter, 50 amostras de leite bovino, obtidas dos centros de coleta da empresa de laticínios ECOLAC, das províncias de Loja e Zamora Chinchipe, Equador, sendo isoladas em total 8 cepas de Arcobacter butzleri (16%). Esta frequência de isolamento concorda e está dentro dos níveis descritos na literatura. Todas as cepas isoladas foram sensíveis à gentamicina. Foi encontrada alta frequência de resistência à tetraciclina (6/8 cepas) e à ciprofloxacina (4/8 cepas), sendo verificada a ocorrência de multirresistência em três das oito cepas isoladas.

A total of 50 samples of bovine milk obtained from bulk tanks milk of the collection centers belonging to the company ECOLAC, of the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, were studied for Arcobacter species diagnosis, being isolated 8 strains of Arcobacter butzleri (16%). This frequency of isolation agrees and falls within the ranges described in the literature. All the isolated strains were susceptible to gentamicin. High resistance levels to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin were found with 6/8 and 4/8 resistant strains respectively. Multi-resistance was found in three of the eight isolated strains.

Para la búsqueda de especies de Arcobacter fueron estudiadas 50 muestras de leche bovina obtenidas de los centros de acopio de la empresa láctea Ecolac, de las provincias de Loja y Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, y se aisló un total de ocho cepas de Arcobacter butzleri (16%). Esta frecuencia de aislamiento concuerda y está dentro de los rangos descriptos en la literatura. Todas las cepas aisladas fueron sensibles a gentamicina. Se encontró alta frecuencia de resistencia a tetraciclina (6/8 cepas) y a ciprofloxacina (4/8 cepas). Se verificó la ocurrencia de multirresistencia en tres de las ocho cepas aisladas.

Abstract: Arcobacter butzleri, A. cryaerophilus , A. skirrowii and A. thereius are recognised as emerging zoonotic agents, recovered from animals and human beings. The information available about Arcobacter species in Latin America is scarce. Among domestic animals, swine are considered important reservoir and source of contamination of different Arcobacter species. This communication reports the first simultaneous isolation of the four zoonotic Arcobacter species in Ecuador. Preliminary identification was done by phenotypic characteristics and definitive species identification was made by multiplex PCR method. Further investigation about the prevalence, distribution, ecology and interactions with human beings of these species is required.

RESUMO: A ocorrência e resistência antimicrobiana de cepas de Campylobacter jejuni e C. coli isoladas de amostras fecais obtidas de cães, suínos, vacas e galinhas no sul do Equador foram determinadas. Das 250 amostras estudadas, 84 (33.6%) foram Campylobacter positivas, sendo C. jejuni mais frequente (78.6%) que C. coli (21.4%) com a exceção das amostras de suínos, das quais só fora isolada a espécie C. coli. Multirresistência foi encontrada em 10 cepas (11,9%), quatro C. jejuni e 6 C. coli, sempre associada à resistência ao ácido nalidíxico e à ciprofloxacina. Todas as cepas resistentes à ampicilina foram susceptíveis para amoxicilina-ácido clavulánico demonstrando que foram produtoras de beta-lactamase. Porém, uma cepa de C. jejuni permaneceu sendo resistente, apresentando, também, resistência à gentamicina. Este é um padrão de multirresistência incomum em Campylobacter e pode refletir diferentes mecanismos de resistência.

ABSTRACT: Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from fecal samples of dogs, pigs, cows and hens in southern Ecuador were studied. Of the 250 samples studied, 84 (33.6%) were Campylobacter positive, with C. jejuni being more frequent (78.6%) than C. coli (21.4%), with the exception of porcine samples, from which C. coli was the only species isolated. Multidrug resistance was reported in 10 Campylobacter strains (11.9%), four C. jejuni and six C. coli, and was always associated with nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin resistance. All of the amoxicillin-resistant strains were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and were therefore beta-lactamase producers. However, one strain of C. jejuni remained resistant with additional resistance to gentamycin. This is an uncommon resistance pattern in Campylobacter and could reflect different resistance mechanisms.

ABSTRACT The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli strains in healthy, well-nourished children of middle socioeconomic level from Southern Ecuador were determined. Among the 127 children studied, 17 (13.4%) harbored Campylobacter sp. corresponding to C. jejuni (7.1%) and C. coli (6.3%) with a higher concentration of C. jejuni among boys (8.6%) and C. coli (8.8%) among girls. C. jejuni showed high resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin (77.8%), but susceptibility to all other antimicrobials tested. C. coli strains showed resistance to more antibiotics than C. jejuni strains including resistance to nalidixic acid (75%), ciprofloxacin (75%), erythromycin (12.5%) and ampicillin (28.6), but susceptible to gentamicin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.

Foram estudadas, para a pesquisa de rotavírus, 341 amostras fecais obtidas de igual número de crianças menores de cinco anos, com diarreia aguda, atendidos em dois centros de saúde da cidade de Loja - Equador. Delas, 56 (16%) foram positivas para rotavírus, sendo genotipadas 33 amostras para a determinação de genótipos G e P. Os genótipos mais frequentes foram G4 (42%), P[6] (36%) e a combinação mista G4+9P[6] (21%). Este é o primeiro estudo de caráter molecular em rotavírus realizado no sul do Equador. Os dados obtidos ratificam a variabilidade de cepas de rotavírus circulantes neste país.

A total of 341 fecal samples obtained from children under five years of age with acute diarrhea disease, attending two nursing homes in Loja city, Ecuador were studied for rotavirus diagnosis. Out of them, 56 (16%) were rotavirus positive and 33 samples were genotyped for the determination of genotypes G and P. The most frequent genotypes were G4 (42%), P [6] (36%) and +9 mixed combination G4 P [6] (21%). This is the first molecular study on rotavirus carried out in Southern Ecuador and the obtained data confirms the variability of the rotavirus circulating strains in Ecuador.

Fueron estudiadas, para la búsqueda de rotavirus, 341 muestras fecales obtenidas de sendos niños menores de cinco años con diarrea aguda, atendidos en dos centros de salud de la ciudad de Loja - Ecuador. De ellas, 56 (16%) fueron positivas para rotavirus, siendo genotipificadas 33 muestras para la determinación de genotipos G y P. Los genotipos más frecuentes fueron G4 (42%), P[6] (36%) y la combinación mixta G4+9P[6] (21%). Este es el primer estudio de carácter molecular en rotavirus realizado en el sur de Ecuador y los datos obtenidos ratifican la variabilidad de cepas de rotavirus circulantes en este país.