Our findings suggest a latitudinal prevalence gradient of MS in Latin American countries between Panama and Argentina.

Background Health care workers (HCWs) use their mobile phones during working hours or medical care. There is evidence that the instruments are colonized with pathogenic microorganisms. Here, we describe levels of Enterobacteriaceae contamination (EC) in cell phones and the risk factors associated with EC in Peruvian intensive care units (ICUs). Methods This was a 5-month cohort study among 114 HCWs of 3 pediatric and 2 neonatology ICUs from 3 Peruvian hospitals. A baseline survey collected data on risk factors associated with EC. Swabs were collected from HCWs’ phones every other week. Results Three-quarters of HCWs never decontaminated their phones, and 47% reported using the phones in the ICU >5 times while working. EC was frequent across samplings and sites and was substantially higher in subjects with longer follow-up. Potential risk factors identified did not have strong associations with positive samples (relative risk, 0.7–1.5), regardless of significance. Half of the phones were colonized with an Enterobacteriaceae at least once during the 4 samplings attained on average during the study period. Half of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), and 33% were extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers. Conclusions EC on HCWs’ phones was frequent and apparently randomly distributed through the hospitals without clear clustering or strongly associated risk factors for having a positive sample. Based on the level of EC, phones may be considered as potential bacterial reservoirs of MDR and ESBL bacteria.

Antecedentes: La ansiedad y la depresión son síndromes psiquiátricos con gran prevalencia en el mundo (5-50%)que por lo general se presentan juntos y generan a la sociedad una importante carga social y económica. Losalumnos universitarios, especialmente los que tienen alta carga académica como los estudiantes de medicina, sonvulnerables a estos trastornos. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva en alumnosde medicina y relacionarla a variables como edad, sexo y año de estudios. Material y Métodos: Se evaluó a 378estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia de 4 años de estudio intercalados de la carrera(primero, tercero, quinto y séptimo) de un total de 467 (80,9%). Se utilizó la Escala de Goldberg para Ansiedad yDepresión (sensibilidad y especificidad mayores a 80%). Se presentan los resultados según edad, sexo y años deestudio; y se analizan las diferencias. Resultados: Se halló una prevalencia de sintomatología ansiosa de 34,1%(129/378); depresiva, de 29,9% (113/378); y conjunta (ansiosa+depresiva), de 20,6% (78/378). En relación con laedad se encontraron diferencias en las personas con sintomatología ansiosa (p=0,005) y conjunta (p=0,004); respectoa los años de estudio, se hallaron diferencias en los alumnos con sintomatología ansiosa (p=0,001), depresiva(p=0,002) y conjunta (p=0,004). No hubo diferencias según sexo. Conclusiones: Las sintomatologías ansiosa ydepresiva tienen una alta prevalencia en estudiantes de medicina en comparación con la población general. Se debeorganizar programas preventivos e investigar las posibles causas de esta alta prevalencia. (Rev Neuropsiquiatr2010;73:15-19).

Fatigue, sleepiness, and a history of accident or near accident were frequent. Having had an accident or near accident was significantly associated with nodding while driving and the number of years as a driver in Chiclayo's bus drivers.