Pattern of antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella isolates in Asir region, Southern part of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Fifty-four cases of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi infection and 46 cases of Salmonella enteritidis infection, seen in Asir region, southern part of Saudi Arabia, during the period 1989-1991 inclusive, were studied regarding antibiotic sensitivity in relation to nationalities. Resistance to conventional enteric fever treatment was encountered to co-trimoxazole in 37.5% of the isolates, to chloramphenicol in 32% of isolates and to ampicillin in 30.8%. Multi-drug resistance is more common in labourers coming from the Indian sub-continent. Resistant cases were also seen among Syrian and Egyptian patients. Enteric fever in general and drug resistance in particular are less commonly seen among the Saudi population. In vitro study has shown that all Salmonella typhi and paratyphi isolates were sensitive to aminoglycosides. Salmonella enteritidis infection was more common among the Saudi population and has shown resistance to tetracycline [27.3%], chloramphenicol [16.7%] and ampicillin [13.6%]. All Salmonella enteritidis isolates were sensitive to the aminoglycosides [gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin]