[Occupational leptospirosis in a Colombian Caribbean area].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the seroprevalence of infection by Leptospira in an occupational setting in Cordoba.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 farmworkers, butchers, and garbage collectors, to identify the presence of anti-leptospira IgM antibodies, in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Stratified sampling proportional to the number of inhabitants and occupation was used to select the sample population (confidence level 99.9%, error 0.5%, prevalence 72%). The SPSS software 11.0 version was used to perform non parametric tests with p < 0.05, as well as odds ratios with confidence intervals.


RESULTS
The prevalence of previous infection by Leptospira was high (13.1%). No differences among areas were found, however, higher infection was associated with living in Cienaga de Oro municipality (OR = 3.52 Cl 1.70-7.26) (p = 0,00283). Being a farmer was also a risk factor for infection (OR = 2.04 Cl 1.080-3.85) (p = 0.025), as well as drinking water from a dam (OR = 2.4 CI 1.24-4.70) (p = 0.00787).


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of infection is important and a significant public health problem in this area of the Colombian Caribbean coast.
Nájera
Saholeth
S
Universidad de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria Zootecnia, Montería, Colombia.
Alvis
Nelson
N
Babilonia
David
D
Alvarez
Ligia
L
Máttar
Salim
S
D000003:Abattoirs; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005735:Garbage; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution; D014881:Water Supply
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M