Abstract

CHANGING TRENDS IN THE SPECTRUM OF ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE PATTERN OF SALMONELLA TYPHI ISOLATED FROM HOSPITALS OF AMRAVATI, MAHARASHTRA

S. G. Dahikar*, S. S. Deshmukh

ABSTRACT

Typhoid fever (enteric fever) is a global health problem causing high morbidity and mortality, especially in endemic areas such as India. The problem is exacerbated as the causative agent, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), rapidly develops resistance to drugs used in treatment. Factors responsible for emergence of new epidemic strains of Salmonella are not understood, but it is possible that antimicrobial play a role in emergence and persistence of epidemic MDR strains. The MDR S. typhi is on the rise. Five hundred and three typhoid positive samples were studied for evaluation of possible series of bacterial infection during the period of March 2010 to June 2011. Antibiotic susceptibility using standard methods were done. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also evaluated for ciprofloxacin. The first line antibiotics may still have a role to play in the treatment of typhoid fever as suggested by the re-emergence of chloramphenicol sensitivity. The isolates are found to be highly resistance to the ciprofloxacin (42%) and highly sensitive to fourth generation gatifloxacin (10%).

Keywords: Changing trends; Salmonella enterica serovar typhi; antimicrobial resistance; typhoid fever.