Antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica: an increasing problem
Galán, J.C.; Varea, M.; Castillo, F.J.; Clavel, A.; Gómez-Lus, R.
Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiologia Clinica 14(9): 528-532
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0213-005X PMID: 9035708 Document Number: 468925
To determine the evolution of the frequencies of Salmonella enterica serotypes and their resistance to antimicrobial agents. A retrospective study of all S. enterica strains isolated from stool samples in the Hospital Clinico Universitario of Zaragoza over the period 1990-1994. Enteritidis was the most frequently isolated serotype (62.9%), although it showed a progressive decrease (from 76.2% in 1990 to 39.8% in 1994). Typhimurium was the serotype showing the highest resistance levels, 37.1% of its isolates being resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracyclin. There was a distinct increase in the frequency of multiresistant strains, from 9.7% in 1990 to 22.9% in 1994. Of 88 such strains, 78.4% corresponded to serogroup B, whereas only 4.5% to serogroup D. Of the antimicrobial agents traditionally considered elective, only cotrimoxazole maintained acceptable resistance levels (4.4%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones or 3rd-generation cephalosporines was not detected. The increasing frequency of Typhimurium, a highly resistant serotype, restrains the elective antimicrobial agents to cotrimoxazole in children and fluoroquinolones in adults. 3rd-generation cefalosporines may be a good alternative in case of therapeutic failure.