MICROBIOLOGICAL LABORATORY RESULTS FROM HAITI - JUNE-OCTOBER 1995

From June to October 1995, the U.S. Army's 86th Combat Support Hospita l was deployed in Haiti in support of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. The hospital's mission was to provide comprehensive health ca re to United Nations military and civilian personnel in Haiti. The hos pital's laboratory, with microbiological and parasitological capabilit y, was a critical asset in light of the infectious disease threats in Haiti A total of 356 microbiological (5.4%) and 887 parasitological (1 3.4%) tests were performed, out of a total of 6628 laboratory tests. O ne finding was the discovery of antibiotic-resistant urinary isolates of Escherichia coli, These were from community-acquired infections and included strains resistant to ampicillin (6/15), trimethoprim + sulfa methoxazole (6/15), and ciprofloxacin (8/15). Ampicillin (8/15) and tr imethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (3/15) resistance was also noted in Shig ella spp. However, no chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria were en countered. Dengue virus, also mosquito borne, was a major pathogen. An timicrobial-resistant nosocomial pathogens were also encountered. Depl oyed laboratories should be able to determine antimicrobial susceptibi lity and perform microbial identification to guide clinical management , conduct medical surveillance, and detect emerging resistance.