FORMIGAS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) COMO VETORES DE BACTÉRIAS EM AMBIENTE HOSPITALAR NA CIDADE DE SÃO LUIS – MARANHÃO

Abstract

*[Inside the hospital environment, ants have played a key role in carrying of pathogenic microorganisms. The present study aimed to detect bacteria carried by ants collected in a Mixed Unit of São Luís, MA, to profile antibiotic susceptibility & to identify the genera of insects. Samples were collected from August to October 2010 in 6 sectors of the studied area from the active search with swabs. The identification of Enterobacteriaceae was carried out using a kit. The execution of susceptibility testing was performed according to the method of disc diffusion & identification of ants through key. We calculated the similarity coefficient & the index of medium intensity. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the susceptibility profiles of the strains to antimicrobials. A total of 36 ants were collected & 21 bacteria were isolated. The coefficients & indexes were more expressive of Camponotus spp., & Solenopsis spp.]