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Introduction: Gastroenteritis is recognized as a serious public health problem in India. It is a syndrome that can be caused by different bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens. Indiscriminate use of antibacterial agents has resulted in the development of multidrug resistant organisms. A retrospective study was done to analyze the etiological spectrum of diarrhoea and to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of bacterial pathogens. Methodology: Fecal specimens from patients with acute or chronic diarrhoea were received prior antibiotic administration and processed for routine microscopy of parasites; culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and polymerase chain reaction for bacterial pathogens and latex agglutination for rotavirus. Results: Out of the 6043 stool samples collected during the period of Jan 2005-Dec 2013, 678 (11.2%) enteric pathogens were isolated. The predominant isolates were Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) (46.3%) followed by Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae and parasites. Certain unusual pathogens were also isolated. Among age wise distribution, Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) mainly Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) was isolated from <5 years of age. The majority of other enteric pathogens were isolated from the adult population. The enteric pathogens isolated showed resistance to multiple antibiotics. The resistance pattern observed during this period showed an overall increase in resistance to the antibiotics tested. Conclusion: The present study documents the overall role of etiological agents as causes of diarrhoea and indicates that the indiscriminate use of potent antibiotics can lead to acquisition of resistance to important therapeutic agents.

Human infection with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars is often a neglected and undiagnosed infection in the developing world. Invasive NTS is now being established as having a new and emerging pathogenic role. There is not sufficient data on the prevalence of NTS serovars and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern from India. Faecal specimens collected from patients with acute gastroenteritis were processed to isolate Salmonella according to the standard protocol for a period from January 2011-December 2014. Salmonella isolates were serotyped and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Of the total 320 (10.04%) bacterial enteric pathogens isolated, 64 (20%) were non-typhoidal Salmonella. Among the serogroup, O:4 (B) (n = 26; 40.6%) was found to be the commonest followed by O:7 (C1) (n = 11; 17.1%) and O:3,10 (E1) (n = 11; 17.1%). NTS infection in cancer patients could also be termed as nosocomial NTS diarrhoea due to primary community infection with prolonged incubation periods, consumption of contaminated food during hospital stay or Nosocomially acquired infection. Serovar Oslo has been predominant (9/17) in NTS isolates from cancer patients, whereas serovars Bovismorbificans, Wangata and Schleissheim have been reported for the first time in the country. The isolates were mostly susceptible to antibiotics except Salmonella ser Kentucky, which showed resistance to ciprofloxacin is reported for the first time in the country. Continuous surveillance is required to monitor resistance of NTS isolates.