Salmonella enteritidis: un patógeno emergente en Chile / Salmonella enteritidis: an emergent pathogen in Chile

RESUMO

Materials and methods: Cases of clinical infections by Salmonella enteritidis were recorder from bacteriological and demographic notifications obtained at The National Reference Laboratory for Enterobacteria. Infection rates were calculated using the total Chilean population and the population of the different Health Services along the country. Results: Until 1993, 13,57 Salmonella enteritidis strains per year were received at the Reference Laboratory. The figures increased to 478 and 432 in 1994 and 1995, respectively. National rates were 3,41 and 3.04 notifications/100.000 inhabitans in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Northern regions were the most affected and 90 percent of observed cases during 1994 came from Arica and Antofagasta. At the present time, 20 percent of cases are observed in Santiago, located in the mid-portion of the country. The outbreak has mainly affected children and young adults (yo percent of cases). Strains have been isolated from stool cultures, suggestig gastrointestinal infections as the main clinical presentation. More than 98 percent of strains are susceptible to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfa-trimetroprim, cefotaxime or ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: The obtained data clearly indicate the existence of an epidemic outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infections, with a geographic progression from North to South