The presence of Salmonella in rivers, lakes, or beaches in South America represents a challenge to public health and aquatic ecosystems. This review explores the distribution, prevalence, and the main factors contributing to the survival and spread of Salmonella, including wastewater discharge, agricultural runoff, and climatic variables such as high temperatures and precipitation. These factors also facilitate the distribution of multidrug-resistant strains in water. The review is based on bibliographic searches in various databases, focusing on Salmonella species, South American countries, and types of water bodies. Predominant serovars include S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium, with S. Typhi and S. Panama frequently detected in Chile, S. Enteritidis in Argentina, and S. Typhimurium in Brazil. Less common serovars, including S. Dublin and S. Paratyphi B, were identified, along with subspecies such as diarizonae and houtenae. These findings highlight the role of environmental, physicochemical, and anthropogenic factors influencing Salmonella dynamics. The review identifies research gaps, advocating for further studies to better understand the interactions between Salmonella, climate change, and human activity. Strengthening surveillance and mitigation strategies is crucial to protect water resources and public health in South America.

In recent years, global concern about tuberculosis (TB) has grown due to the slow progress in achieving control goals, with a record number of cases reported worldwide in 2022. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of all pulmonary TB cases reported between 2016 and 2020 in the Gran Santiago (n = 3348), Chile’s largest urban area. Cases were geocoded using an automated cascade method (Bing Maps, Google Maps, and manual verification) and aggregated at the neighborhood level. To detect spatial clusters, we estimated gender-adjusted rates, assessed spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I, and identified spatial clusters with Flexible Scan Statistics. Bivariate analyses were used to explore associations with demographic and residential variables. We observed higher incidence rates in males compared to females (13.23 vs. 7.03 per 100,000), with no statistically significant changes over time. A total of 29.4% (n = 984) of all cases were concentrated in 11 significant spatial clusters. These clusters were characterized by a higher proportion of immigrant, Indigenous, and older populations, along with indicators of precarious living conditions, including overcrowding and tenement housing. Identifying spatial patterns of pulmonary TB can support the design of targeted, community-based case-finding strategies in urban settings, particularly in populations at higher social and structural risk.

Background/Objectives: The spatial interaction between obesity, diet-related chronic diseases, premature mortality, food environments, and social determinants of health is a global concern. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of healthy and unhealthy food outlets in two medium-sized cities in southern Chile. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to characterize the food environment in two medium-sized cities in Chile. Food outlets were geolocated and classified as healthy, regular, or unhealthy, and into four food environment categories (institutional outlets, informal markets, formal markets, and restauration) using validated instruments. Results: Of 1972 identified sites, 1949 were geolocated. Among these, 246 (12.6%) were classified as healthy, 461 (23.7%) as unhealthy, and 1242 (63.7%) as regular. Food environments comprised 1441 stores (73.9%), 366 restauration (18.8%), 136 street food outlets (7.0%), and six institutional food outlets (0.3%). The two lowest socioeconomic quintiles (Q1–Q2) exhibited a lower proportion of healthy food outlets (39.4%). Significant positive spatial autocorrelation was observed for stores, restaurants, and street food outlets (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Food environments were unequally distributed, with a higher density of healthy food outlets in areas characterized by greater population density and higher socioeconomic status. The observed spatial autocorrelation highlights the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce inequalities in access to healthy foods. These findings provide evidence to support policies aimed at promoting more equitable and healthier food environments in medium-sized cities.