ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella spp. isolates recovered from the stool samples of children with diarrhea. Methods Seventy-two isolates of Salmonella spp. were collected from children with diarrhea. The serum type of Salmonella spp.was determined by serology agglutinating method. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by K-B disk diffusion method and MICs of cefotaxime and ceftazidime were measured by agar dilution method for Salmonella spp. isolates. PCR and DNA sequencing were used for detecting ESBL, ISEcpl and AmpC genes; The transfer of cefotaxime resistance was determined by conjugation experiments. PFGE was performed for determining the homogeneity of the S. typhimurium isolates. Results A total of 72 isolates of Salmonella spp. were collected, among which S. typhimurium accounted for 86 % (62/72) and was the main serum type. S. typhimurium isolates and S. thompson isolates were often resistant to most of clinically used antimicrobial agents. Resistance of S. thompson isolates to ampicillin was the highest (90%, 56/62),followed by tetracycline (81%, 50/62), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (74%, 46/62) and chloramphenicol (66%, 41/62). Seventeen S. typhimurium isolates (27%, 17/62) and two S. thompson isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. Forty-nine S. typhimurium isolates and two S. thompson isolates were positive for blaTEB-1b and resistant to ampicillin. Thirteen ESBL-producing S. typhimurium isolates (21%, 13/62) were positive for blaCTX-M (eight for blaCTX-M-14, three for blaCTX-M-15, one for blaCTX-M-55, one for both blaCTX-M-14 and blaCTX-M-55). All isolates harboring blaCTX-M genes were positive for upstream insert sequence ISEcpl. blaDHA-1was detected in a cefoxitin-resistant S. thompson isolate. Two main clones (PFGE type A and D) accounting for 19% (12/62) and 50% (31/62) respectively were found among 62 S. typhimurium isolates. Seven CTXM-producing isolates belonged to PFGE type D. Conclusions The multi-resistance to antimicrobial agents and high prevalence of blaCTX-M genes are found among S. typhimurium and S. thompson clinical isolates. blaCTX-M-55 is first found in S. typhimurium isolates and blaDHA-1 is found in S. thompson isolates. Clonal spread is responsible for the dissemination of S. typhimurium isolates.