Study of restroom contamination by intestinal parasites in five public child day care centers of the city of Patrocinio, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to search for eggs and larvae of helminthes in public restroom surfaces of five preschools in the city of Patrocinio, Minas Gerais State. The material was collected with transparent adhesive tape upon glass slide from 87 restroom surfaces used by the children, such as flushing devices (button or string), faucets, sinks, and toilet seats and baby changing and bath stations. Of the 87 surfaces analyzed, 14 (16.1 %) were found positive. There was contamination in 7 seats (50.0%), 3 flushing devices (21.4%), 2 faucets (14.3%), 1 sink (7.1%), and 1 place for changing diapers (7.1%). These results demonstrate a poor hygiene in the studied institutions, indicating a possibility of infection in those environments.