Abstract

TOMASSINI, Loriana; COSTAMAGNA, Sixto Raúl  and  RANDAZZO, Viviana. Aislamiento de Acanthamoeba spp. en salas cerradas de un hospital de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2022, vol.56, n.4, pp.521-526. ISSN 0325-2957.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are ubiquitous protozoa with four pathogenic genera for humans: Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, Balamuthia, and Sappinia. Acanthamoeba can act as a reservoir of microorganisms (endosymbionts), for which reason, in a hospital environment, it would imply a risk for transmission of nosocomial bacteria, viruses and fungi. The presence of AVL, with emphasis on Acanthamoeba spp., was investigated in a pediatric hospital. Twenty-two samples were collected from sinks and incubators in Neonatology and Intensive Care rooms, which were cultured at 37 and 42 °C. The isolates found were molecularly identified. A total of 63.64% of the samples presented Acanthamoeba spp. This research represents the first study in Argentina on the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in closed rooms of a hospital. Its presence is an alarm signal, and it is a useful target to investigate possible reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms in hospital environments.

Keywords : Free-living amoebas; Protozoa, Reservoir; Hospital environment; Resistance to disinfectants.

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