Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Salmonella and Shigella Species among under Five Age Children at Jimma University Medical Center and Serbo Health Center, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Worldwide, an estimated 2,00,000 deaths occur due to diarrhea caused by Salmonella where 80% of deaths occur among under- ive children. Shigella species is the leading pathogen among the top six attributable pathogens causing childhood diarrhea. The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species among under- ive children and their antibiotic resistance patterns.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data. The stool samples were inoculated on macconkey agar, xylose lysine dextrose agar and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 18 hrs to 24 hrs. All positive stool cultures were identi ied and characterized based on morphology, cultural characters and biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was done on Mueller Hinton agar.

Results: From 348 stool samples screened for Salmonella and Shigella species. The overall prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species was 5.2% and 6.0% respectively. About 76.2% of Shigella species and 66.7% of Salmonella species isolated from a stool sample were multidrug-resistant. Shigella and Salmonella species showed the highest frequency of drug resistance for ampicillin (100%, 88.9%).

Conclusion: Prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species still higher and higher level of drug resistance observed. Fluoroquinolones and ce triaxone are still the treatment of options for Salmonella and Shigella species.

Author(s): Ephrem Awulachew

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