Serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance of human gastrointestinal isolates of Salmonella enterica from Crete, Greece.

摘要

Non-typhoidal salmonellae are important pathogens of food poisoning and gastroenteritis not only in developing but also in industrialized nations. Although gastrointestinal illness is the most common clinical manifestation of Salmonella infections, serious extraintestinal complications, such as septicemia, pneumonia, endocarditis, meningitis and osteomyelitis can also occur x. In self-limited gastrointestinal infections, antibiotic treatment is not required. On the other hand, antibiotic treatment is essential and life-saving in cases of invasive salmonellosis, mainly among children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Hence, the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance among Salmonella enterica strains that has been reported worldwide is a major problem that limits available therapeutic options for these serious infections and increases morbidity and mortality. Helms etal. showed that after adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidity, infection with quinolone-resistant S. enterica serotype Typhimurium was associated with a 3-fold higher risk of invasive illness or death within 90 days of infection, compared with that of infection with pansusceptible strains .