Abstract

OLAYA-MASMELA, LUZ ADRIANA; CHACON DE ULLOA, PATRICIA  and  PAYAN, ANDREY. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in hospital centers of Valle del Cauca as vectors of nosocomial pathogens. Rev. Colomb. Entomol. [online]. 2005, vol.31, n.2, pp.183-187. ISSN 0120-0488.

Ants and nosocomial pathogens carried by them were studied in health care centers at four localities in the department of Valle del Cauca: Cartago, Tulua, Cali and Buenaventura. Seven species were found, of which Paratrechina longicornis and Tapinoma melanocephalum were the most frequently collected. Fourteen bacterial types were isolated; eight were found to be exclusively transported by four species of ants (7^ melanocephalum, P. longicornis, Tetramorium bicarinatum y Monomorium pharaonis). The most virulent Gram-positive coccus was Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacilli were Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, S. liquefasciens, Enterobacter agglomerans. and F,. calcoaceticus. Staphylococcus sp. coagulasa (-) was the pathogen most commonly isolated from ants.

Keywords : Wandering ants; Bacteria; Within-hospital Infection.; Colombia.

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