Identification, Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Salmonella and Shigella species Isolated from Blood and Stool Samples of Patients Visiting N. I. H, Islamabad

摘要

The study was designed to determine the incidence of Salmonella and Shigella spp. in blood and stool samples of patients. A total of 150, samples of blood (110) and stool (40) were collected from patients, reporting at NIH (National Institute Health) and six Salmonella and two Shigella strains were identified by colony identification and biochemical tests and serotyping. Of the 6 Salmonella isolates; 2 were of S. typhi, 1 of S. paratyphi A, 1 of S. paratyphi B and 2 of other Salmonella spp. The 2 Shigella strains from stool samples were S. flexneri (Poly B serotype). Salmonella isolates were found to be susceptible to gentamicin, ofloxacin, cefotaxime, amikacin, tobramycin, cefaclor, while resistant to ampicillin, cefamendole, chloramphenicol, gentamicin and cefuroxime. Shigella strains showed resistance to vibramycin, ampicillin, tetracycline and sensitivity against nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, chloramphenicol, amikacin, and aztreonam. Despite the fact that the overall prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella reported in this study was low, there is sufficient evidences to indicate that better hygiene and water treatment and management would even further reduce the incidence of these infections.