CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry
Doi
Abstract
AbstractObjective: The study aimed to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella sp. strainsover a three-year period in a tertiary care hospital.Methodology: It was a retrospective observational study. Electronic medical records were utilized fordata retrieval from 2017 to 2019. The study parameters included individuals of all age groups, andgenders diagnosed with typhoid based on positive blood cultures. Identification, speciation, andantimicrobial susceptibility testing adhered to standardized protocols, with statistical analysis conductedusing SPSS 25.0.Results: Among 769 Salmonella isolates, 709 cases were reported in 2019, making it the highestincidence over the study period. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains peaked in 2019, comprisingapproximately 50% of cases, while multiple drug-resistant strains accounted for 25%. Notably, resistanceto ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, and ceftriaxone exhibited a consistent upward trend over thethree-year span. Ciprofloxacin demonstrated the highest resistance, with only 4% sensitivity amongSalmonella isolates.Conclusion: The findings have highlighted a concerning escalation in antimicrobial resistance amongSalmonella Typhi strains in Punjab, Pakistan, particularly evident in the prevalence of extensively drugresistantstrains. Multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant strains of Salmonella are difficult to treat andmay give rise to even more drug resistance if not treated appropriately, leading to a vicious cycle of resistance.Keywords: Typhoid fever, antimicrobial resistance, Drug-resistant strains, public health, Pakista
