Sensitivity pattern of salmonella typhi and paratyphi in paediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the sensitivity patterns of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi in paediatric patients in a public-sector tertiary-care setting.

METHODS

The retrospective, observational study was conducted at Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, Pakistan, from January 11 to March 3, 2024, and comprised samples from patients aged 1-14 years who had been confirmed as cases of Salmonella typhi during testing at the Medical Teaching Institution Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi, between January 5 and December 24, 2023. Cultures had been performed manually, while antibiotic susceptibility had been tested using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS

Of the 63 patients, 40(63.4%) were boys and 23(36.5%) were girls. The overall mean age was 7.8±4.16 years. Among the samples, 6(10.5%) showed sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, while 57(89.4%) exhibited resistance. None of the samples showed sensitivity to ampicillin, and 1(1.5%) was sensitive to ceftriaxone. Azithromycin showed a high sensitivity rate of 60(95.2%). Meropenem and imipenem demonstrated 63(100%) sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of extremely high resistance of salmonella typhi to commonly used antibiotics, such as ampici lin, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone show a concerning trend in pediatric patients. Measures need to be taken to prevent the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.