Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Nontyphoidal Salmonellosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India.

INTRODUCTION

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a significant cause of food- and water-transmitted illness in the world, with the burden amplified in low-socioeconomic countries such as India. While most infections present as self-limiting gastroenteritis, vulnerable populations may develop invasive nontyphoidal salmonellosis (iNTS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical spectrum, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of NTS isolates in a tertiary care hospital.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 61 NTS isolates were recovered from clinical samples, including stool, blood, pus, and urine. Identification was performed using the VITEK-2 system, and serotyping of fifteen isolates was done at the National Salmonella and Escherichia Center, Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK-2 compact system.

RESULTS

The prevalence of NTS among 1,08,468 samples was 0.056%. Most isolates were from stool samples, followed by blood, pus, and urine. Most patients presented with acute gastroenteritis (56%), often associated with outside food consumption. S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium were the most common serovars isolated. Extraintestinal manifestations included diabetic cellulitis, sepsis, and a rare case of generalized lymphadenopathy in a child, later diagnosed with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD), and a case of neonatal meningitis in a 15-day-old infant. All isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, and meropenem (100%). However, resistance to ceftriaxone was 22.9%, ciprofloxacin 31.1%, ampicillin 14.7% and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 3.27%.

CONCLUSION

Nontyphoidal Salmonella continues to pose a public health threat in India, particularly with the rise of antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the importance of prudent antibiotic usage, robust surveillance systems, and public health interventions focused on food safety, sanitation, and targeted education.