Helicobacter pylori, Protozoa, Helminths and Household Hygiene in a Binational Sample of a US-Mexico Border Population

In 2005, we investigated a random sample of households in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico to determine t prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora spp., Giardia spp and Taenia spp using immunoassays. In addition, helminth eggs were quantified using a standard flotation technique. The prevalence of these agents was investigated in relation to selected characteristics and total and fecal coliform counts from environmental samples of kitchen surfaces, water, and hands of caregivers. The overall prevalence for this border region of H. pylori, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Cyclospora spp., E. histolytica, E. dispar, and Taenia spp. infection were 38.2%,1.4%, 2.9%, 0%, 0%,1.2%, and 3.0% , respectively. One person had both A. lumbricoides and N. americanus. There was no evidence of microbiologic contamination of drinking water. Coliforms were found at low frequencies on hands of caregivers and the kitchen surfaces. Dish cloths/sponges, countertops and cutting boards were the most common contaminated sites. Not always washing hands after using the toilet had a 30% increase in the prevalence of H. pylori infection (prevalence ratio= 1.3; 95% CI=1.0–1.8). No associations were found with other pathogens, but given their low prevalence, the study had limited statistical power to detect them. Furthermore, no associations were found by microbiologic contamination for any pathogen. In multivariate analysis, age, education, crowding, not always washing hands, and place of birth were associated with prevalence of H. pylori. No association was found with living in Juarez vs. El Paso.