Nosocomial Plasmodium falciparum infections confirmed by molecular typing in Medellín, Colombia

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Blair Silvia, Restrepo Eliana, Franco Liliana, Arroyave Marta, Ochoa Jesus, González Lina, Maestre Amanda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2005
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-4-9; https://doaj.org/article/c819a0a19d83488dad7b5c0077f418e3

Abstract Three cases of nosocomial malaria are reported from patients of the Internal Medicine Ward of a tertiary University teaching hospital in Medellin, Colombia. Epidemiological research, based on entomological captures, medical records review and interviews of nursery staff about patient care practices potentially involving contact with blood, were carried out. Molecular characterization of Plasmodium falciparum was based on the amplification of MSP1, MSP2 and GLURP genes. This method enabled confirmation of the same P. falciparum genotype in all three patients as well as in a fourth one (index case). The presence of nosocomial malaria was confirmed and it was concluded that the most likely source of transmission was through multi-dose preparations of heparin applied to heparin locks.