The proper use of products containing sodium hypochlorite, ammonium salts and triclosan has proved to be effective in the elimination of infectious agents in the household environment. Our objective was to evaluate the immediate, one-week and one-month efficacy of controlled use of five products containing these components, compared to other commonly used products. Within a six month period, thirty two middle-class homes from Buenos Aires City and suburbs were included in this open-label, randomized, parallel-group intervention study. Sixteen homes were randomized to use products containing sodium hypochlorite, ammonia and triclosan in the kitchen and bathroom during one month. The remaining maintained usual practices for domestic cleaning. Bacterial counts and identification were performed from samples taken from each study site. Baseline samples (no group discrimination) contained a mean bacterial count in kitchen of 66.0 CFU/cm², and in bathroom 40.1 CFU/cm². Samples taken immediately after-cleaning (no group discrimination) contained: kitchen 0.8 CFU/cm²; bathroom < 1 CFU/ cm². After one week (intervention group vs. control group) contained: kitchen 18.0 vs. 32.5 CFU/cm²; bathroom 12.7 vs. 7.7 CFU/cm². After one month (intervention group vs. control group): kitchen 60.1 vs. 62.1 CFU/cm²; bathroom 37.0 vs. 42.0 CFU/cm². A remarkable dicrease of bacterial load was observed in both groups, which suggests that not only product quality but also education for suitable use plays a key role in successful house disinfection. This approach could be an important tool for improving prevention of foodborne infections since fecal coliforms widely predominated in all analyzed samples.

El uso adecuado de hipoclorito de sodio, sales de amonio cuaternario y triclosán ha demostrado ser eficaz para eliminar gérmenes dentro del hogar. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la eficacia inmediata, a la semana y al mes del uso controlado de cinco productos con estos componentes, comparados con otros productos de uso habitual. Se incluyeron 32 hogares de clase media de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y la periferia en un estudio con intervención, abierto, aleatorizado, y de grupos paralelos, durante 6 meses. La mitad de los hogares fue seleccionada para usar hipoclorito de sodio, sales de amonio cuaternario y triclosán en la cocina y el baño durante un mes. El grupo control mantuvo prácticas habituales de limpieza doméstica. Se tomaron muestras para recuento y tipificación bacteriana de los sitios estudiados: muestras basales (sin discriminación de grupo) en cocina, que presentaron recuento bacteriano promedio de 66.0 UFC/cm²; baño: 40.1 UFC/cm². Las muestras inmediatas a la limpieza (sin discriminación de grupo): en cocina: 0.8 UFC/cm²; baño: <1 UFC/cm². A la semana (grupo intervenido vs. grupo control): cocina 18.0 vs. 32.5 UFC/cm²; baño 12.7 vs. 7.7 UFC/cm². Al mes (intervenido vs. control): cocina: 60.1 vs. 62.1 UFC/cm²; baño: 37.0 vs. 42.0 UFC/cm². Se observó una notable disminución de la carga bacteriana en ambos grupos, lo que sugiere que no sólo la calidad de los productos sino también la educación en el uso desempeñan un papel clave en la desinfección del hogar. Este enfoque podría ser una herramienta importante para prevenir infecciones transmitidas por alimentos, dado que los coliformes fecales predominaron ampliamente en todas las muestras tipificadas.

A prevalência de Trichinella spiralis, Leptospira spp. e Salmonella spp. foi estudada em ratos e gambás que habitam granjas avícolas da região de Exaltación de la Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina, com o objetivo de determinar o potencial risco sanitário para pessoas que ficam em contato com esses animais. O estudo foi realizado entre a primavera de 1999 e o inverno de 2001 em 48 granjas avícolas. O estudo em gambás iniciou-se no inverno de 2000. Foram capturados 152 Rattus norvegicus, 3 Rattus rattus, 16 Didelphis albiventris e 1 Lutreolina crassicaudata. Registrou-se a presença de ratos e de gambás em 70% e 27% das granjas estudadas, respectivamente. A percentagem de granjas com ratos foi independente da presença ou da ausência de suínos. Não foi detectada a presença de Leptospira spp. e de Trichinella spiralis em nenhum animal avaliado. Foi detectada, porém, a presença de Salmonella Enteritidis em um Rattus norvegicus e em um Didelphis albiventris. Nas condições em que esse estudo foi realizado, os nossos resultados indicam que ratos e gambás que habitam granjas avícolas não constituem um fator de risco na transmissão de Trichinella e de Leptospira. A detecção de Salmonella Enteritidis tanto em ratos quanto em gambás, porém, sugere a necessidade de aplicar medidas profiláticas em granjas avícolas para maior controle desse agente.

We have studied the prevalence of Trichinella spiralis, Leptospira spp. and Salmonella spp. in rats and opossums that inhabit poultry farms of Exaltación de la Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to determine the potential sanitary risk for humans that are in contact with these animals. The study was carried out on 48 poultry farms between spring 1999 and winter 2001. The study of opossums began in winter 2000. During the study period we captured 152 Rattus norvegicus, 3 Rattus rattus, 16 Didelphis albiventris and 1 Lutreolina crassicaudata. We have registered the presence of rats and opossums in 70% and 27% of the studied farms, respectively. The percentage of farms with rats was independent of the presence or absence of pigs. We did not detect the presence of Leptospira spp. and Trichinella spiralis in any individual. We detected the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis in one Rattus norvegicus and one Didelphis albiventris. According to our results, the rats and opossums of poultry farms may not report a risk factor in the transmission of Trichinella and Leptospira under the present conditions; but the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in rats as well as in opossums suggests the idea of applying prophylactics measurements on poultry farms.