Salmonella Serogroups and their. Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Isolated From Diarrhoea) Stools of Pediatric Out­patients in Jimma Hospital and Jimma Health Center, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Salmonellosis is a major health problem, especially among children in developing countries. Moreover, Salmonellae are becoming resistant to commonly used antimicrobials in most parts of the world. Investigation on the Salmonella has been veil^, limited in Ethiopia and such study lacks in Jininia, The aim of this study was to determine the prevalent salmonella serogroups and resistance pattern of the isolates to commonly used antibiotics in the study area.

METHODS: The study was conducted from March to July 2000. Diarrhoea! stool specimens were collected from 384 pediatric diarrhoea! out-patients (age < 14 years) using transport medium from Jimma hospital and Jimma health centre. Isolation and characterization were performed according to standard methodology.

RESULTS: Fifty nine Salmonella strains were isolated, of which serogroup A comprised 8.5%, B 28.8%, C 22%, D 13.6%, E 5.1% and S.typhi 22%. Among the isolates, 59.3% were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin, 47.5% to cephalothin, 40.7% to trimethoprim­sulfamethoxazole, 35.6% to chloramphenicol, and less than 25.4% were resistant to other drugs. Among S.typhi isolates, 30.8% were resistant to chloramphenicol and this shows the emergence of chloramphenicol resistant S.typhi strains in Jimma.

CONCLUSION: Gentamicin, polymyxin B and nalidixic acid were found to be active against isolates of salmonella species including S. typhi.