Treatment of enteric fever is increasingly becoming very challenging due to the increasing wave of antibiotic resistance. This study is a review of the contemporary antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella species. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella species to a wide range of antimicrobial agents was compiled for a period of 10 years (1997-2006). Data was obtained from published articles on both in vitro and in vivo susceptibility patterns of the organism to various drugs during the time interval. Data obtained were analysed using simple descriptive methods. Of the 23,504 isolates of Salmonella species reviewed, they were found to be 98% susceptible to cefepime and carbapenem, 91% to azithromycin, 82.1% to cefixime and 73% to quinolones. Also susceptibility to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, streptomycin, ampicillin, gentamicin, co-trimoxazole, augmentin and amikacin was found to be 11.9%,

The study was set up to review the current susceptibility patterns of Salmonella isolates to quinolones. A systematic literature search on in vitro and in vivo susceptibility patterns of Salmonella isolates to various quinolones was carried out from relevant published articles over a 25 year interval (1982-2007). Data obtained was analysed using simple descriptive methods. Susceptibility patterns of 55,853 Salmonella isolates to quinolones from 845 reports were reviewed. The most active quinolones encountered were (where n= number of Salmonella isolates tested): ciprofloxacin, 99%(n=15,432); grepafloxacin, 99%(n=2,701); gemifloxacin, 97%(n=1,209); ofloxacin, 96%(n=8,692); and sparofloxacin, 93%(n=557). This was followed by: enoxacin, 92%(n=2,653); gatifloxacin, 90%(n=788); lomefloxacin, 83%(n=1,823); and levofloxacin, 81%(n=3,228). And the least active quinolones against Salmonella spp. were norfloxacin, 76%(n=1,355); pefloxacin, 62%(n=4,307); and nalidixic acid, 61%(n=17,542). Quinolones at present have been found to be quite effective in the management of enteric fever and their use should be sustained. However, susceptibility patterns of the local Salmonella isolates should be conducted to identify the most appropriate quinolone to use in this environment. Furthermore, in the absence of a susceptibility report, ciprofloxacin, grepafloxacin, gemifloxacin, ofloxacin, and sparofloxacin may be considered preferred choices on proven diagnosis of enteric fever.

No abstract