Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella enterica Serovar typhi Isolated from Human Clinical Samples in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The emergence of resistance to the frequently used antibiotics for empirical treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is increasing. This study was designed to determine the antimicrobial Resistance profile of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolated from human clinical samples in Ebonyi State. A non-duplicated stool culture of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi of patients diagnosed with typhoid fever at General Hospital Onicha Igboeze were collected from the hospital ward namely: A & E (n = 4), MS (n = 3), FS (n = 3), PD (n = 7), LW (n = 4), ORT (n = 1), LAB (n = 17), THE (n = 9), GOPD (n = 4), MM (n = 3). Antimicrobial studies of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi were determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. The proportion of resistance ranges from 33 %-100% against colistin, cefepime, nalidixic acid, cefoxitin, amikacin, cefuroxime, and piperacillin-tazobactam but the isolates were only susceptible to meropenem 100%.  The use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi   infection should be guided with antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Nonetheless, the diversity of the Salmonella isolates as a result of the dissemination of these resistance genes call for concern and emphasizes a need for an extensive investigation for the presence of these genes in Ebonyi State as well as the implementation of strict antimicrobial policies in a bid to restrict the spread of these resistance genes and prevent the emergence of new resistant strains.