Screening for Intestinal Parasites in Elective Surgery Patients in Endemic Areas: How Relevant Is It?

Background: This study was designed to reevaluate the importance of screening for intestinal parasites in elective surgery patients so as to prevent the complications associated with intestinal parasitism in this group of patients. Methods: The study was carried out in Jos, North Central Nigeria, to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitism in 130 consecutive elective surgery patients using the direct wet mount and formol ether concentration methods. Results: The overall distribution of intestinal parasites was 31.5%, with the helminthes recording 30.8% while protozoans had 1.5%. Patients for lower abdominal surgery recorded 33.3%, while 24.0% was recorded for the other types of surgery. Hookworms recorded the highest distribution with 17.7% followed by Ascaris lumbricoides with 10.8%, Schistosoma mansoni and Strongyloides stercoralis with 2.3% each, and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Trichuris trichiura with 0.8 % each. The age group of 61 years and above had the highest prevalence of 45.5% followed by the 41-50 year age group with 36.4%. The 11-20 and 51-60 year age groups had the least prevalence at 23.1% each. The females recorded a higher prevalence of 37.5% against 31.0% in males. Farmers had 35.3% while civil servants had the least prevalence of 7.1%. Subjects who defecate in toilet pits had a prevalence of 35.5%, closely followed by those who defecate in bushes and cultivated farmlands with 34.0%. Subjects using the water-closet toilet system recorded only 6.7%. In relation to sources of drinking water, those using water from streams and rivers recorded the highest prevalence of 35.1%, while those using tap water recorded 27.0%. Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of screening elective surgery patients, especially in endemic areas for intestinal parasites, so as to prevent possible complications associated with intestinal parasites during and after the surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]