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Retrospective treatment analysis of Salmonella infections

Y A Gokhale1, G Malkan, L S Bichile

  • 1Lt Municipal Medical College, Sion, Bombay.

Insights

High rates of chloramphenicol resistance in enteric fever were observed, yet it was frequently prescribed. Cotrimoxazole showed faster fever remission than chloramphenicol or ciprofloxacin.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Enteric fever remains a significant global health concern.
  • Antimicrobial resistance is a growing challenge in treating enteric fever.
  • Chloramphenicol has historically been a primary treatment, but resistance is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the use of various anti-Salmonella agents in culture and histopathology-proven enteric fever cases.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of different antimicrobial agents in terms of fever remission time.
  • To investigate potential complications like enteric carditis in fatal cases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 24 culture-proven and 9 postmortem histopathology-proven enteric fever cases.
  • Assessment of antimicrobial agent usage, focusing on anti-Salmonella drugs.
  • Comparison of fever remission duration for chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin.

Main Results:

  • High chloramphenicol resistance (91.7%) was noted.
  • Despite resistance, 70% of patients received chloramphenicol.
  • Fever remission times: cotrimoxazole (4.1 days), chloramphenicol (4.5 days), ciprofloxacin (6.9 days).
  • Enteric carditis was observed in 3 of 4 postmortem cases with peripheral circulatory failure.

Conclusions:

  • Chloramphenicol resistance necessitates a re-evaluation of its use in enteric fever.
  • Cotrimoxazole appears to be a more effective agent for fever remission compared to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin.
  • Enteric carditis is a notable postmortem finding in fatal enteric fever cases.

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