Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of salmonella typhi isolates in rural sindh

ABSTRACT

One hundred and twenty strains of Salmonella typhi isolated between January 1994 to December 1995 from peripheral blood of patients clinically suspected to be suffering from typhoid fever, were tested for susceptibility to common antibiotics by standardized single-disc diffusion method of Bauer-Kirby technique. A high level of resistance to first line durgs was observed; co-trimoxazole, 60.00%; Ampicillin, 57.50%; Amoxicillin, 54.16% and chloramphenicol, 50%. Sensitivity of S. typhi to Quinolone group ranging from 98.34 to 99.17%, Cephalosporins, 90-91.67%; Aztreonam, 89.17%. The study brings forward the need of performing blood culture and sensitivity for managing typhoid fever with confidence. Whenever, there is a strong clinical suspicion of enteric fever, after drawing blood sample for culture, treatment with Quinolone, may be started till antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolate is determined