2026-04-29T22:57:39Zhttps://repisalud.isciii.es/rest/oai/requestoai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/48572024-11-14T21:04:27Zcom_20.500.12105_2052com_20.500.12105_2051col_20.500.12105_19609
Repisalud
author
Salvador, Fernando
author
Sulleiro, Elena
author
Sánchez-Montalvá, Adrián
author
Alonso, Carmen
author
Santos, Javier
author
Fuentes Corripio, Isabel
author
Molina, Israel
2017-09-04T16:35:35Z
2017-09-04T16:35:35Z
2016-10-14
Parasit Vectors. 2016; 9 (1):548
10.1186/s13071-016-1827-4
1756-3305
Parasites & Vectors
27741951
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/4857
Background: Blastocystis spp. are among the most frequently observed intestinal parasites in humans. Despite the
discovery of Blastocystis approximately 100 years ago, limited information is available regarding its pathogenesis,
genetic diversity, and available treatment options. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and
clinical characteristics of patients with Blastocystis sp. infections diagnosed at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
(Barcelona, Spain).
Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed which included all adult patients who attended Vall
d’Hebron University Hospital from February 2009 to March 2014 that had Blastocystis sp. detected in their stool.
Results: Four hundred eighteen patients were included, the median age was 36 (18–86) years and 236 (56.5 %)
were men. Regarding patient symptoms, 234 (56 %) patients were completely asymptomatic, 92 (22 %) patients
had symptoms, and 92 (22 %) patients had symptoms that could be attributed to other causes. Of the 92 patients
with symptoms not attributable to other etiologies except for Blastocystis infection, the most frequent symptoms
were diarrhea (61 patients, 66.3 %) and abdominal pain (34 patients, 37 %). Additionally, nine (9.8 %) patients had
cutaneous manifestations. Thirty-one (7.4 %) patients received specific treatment for Blastocystis infection. The
clinical response of treated patients was varied. Five patients experienced complete resolution of symptoms, 12
patients reported improvement of clinical symptoms, eight patients described no clinical improvement, and
information was unavailable for six patients.
Conclusions: Blastocystis infection was detected in 418 patients, most of them foreign-born. Although the vast
majority of patients were asymptomatic, 22 % of patients had gastrointestinal symptoms or cutaneous manifestations
in the absence of other causes. Despite the scarce information available, given the safety of antiparasitic treatment, and
the percentage of patients who experienced resolution or improvement of symptoms, treatment should be considered
in patients with chronic symptoms.
eng
Blastocystis
Intestinal protozoa
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Metronidazole
Epidemiological and clinical profile of adult patients with Blastocystis sp. infection in Barcelona, Spain
journal article
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13071_2016_Article_1827.pdf.txt
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