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Occurrence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi in Calcutta
M R Saha1, P Dutta, S K Bhattacharya
1National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases, Calcutta.
Abstract:
Blood and faecal samples were collected from 122 hospitalised patients of Calcútta clinically suspected to have enteric fever, for isolation of S. typhi. It was isolated from 34.4, 4.9 and 4.1 per cent patients by blood culture, stool culture and by both respectively. The in vitro drug susceptibility testing showed that all the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, but were uniformly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and furazolidone. In view of the appearance of multi-drug resistant S. typhi in Calcutta, great care should be exercised in the use of newer quinolone derivatives.
Insights
Multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi strains were identified in Calcutta enteric fever patients. All isolates were resistant to common antibiotics but susceptible to newer quinolones, necessitating careful drug use.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, remains a significant public health concern globally.
- The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in S. Typhi poses a therapeutic challenge, particularly in high-burden regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of S. Typhi in hospitalized patients with suspected enteric fever in Calcutta.
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated S. Typhi strains.
Main Methods:
- Blood and fecal samples were collected from 122 patients with suspected enteric fever.
- Bacterial isolation was performed using blood and stool cultures.
- In vitro drug susceptibility testing was conducted on S. Typhi isolates.
Main Results:
- S. Typhi was isolated from 34.4% of patients via blood culture, 4.9% via stool culture, and 4.1% by both methods.
- All S. Typhi isolates exhibited resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
- Uniform susceptibility was observed to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and furazolidone.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the presence of multi-drug resistant S. Typhi in Calcutta.
- Emerging resistance necessitates judicious use of antibiotics, including newer quinolone derivatives, to preserve their efficacy.